Iridium Satellite Bird Tracker

Description

Beegle Solar-Flight satellite bird tracker is a sub-55g (1.94oz) solar powered Iridium tracking device for birds. The unit has a flexible transmission schedule which can be updated over the air. Equipped with an internal battery which supplies power at night and during overcast days or when in the shade. The battery can power the device for several weeks without any sun and recharges when sun is available. It also has an intelligent power management system which reduces power usage as the battery depletes. This ensures little to no data points are missed. This product has been used on Eagles, Vultures, Ground Hornbill, Blue Cranes and Kites. It is not suitable for birds less than 1kg (2.2lb).

By making use of the Iridium satellite constellation for communication, no terrestrial infrastructure is needed (base stations, repeaters, etc.). The position data from the animal is transmitted directly to satellites and made available on a web-based tracking portal (such as Movebank) which can be viewed at any time, from anywhere. This significantly reduces the costs, administration and environmental impact of tracking compared to traditional VHF methods where vehicles, large antennas, personnel and time are needed.