GPS tracking Barn Owls in Ireland

12 Dec 2017

With the ongoing miniaturisation of electronic components, GPS tracking has become an invaluable tool in learning more about the movements of resident and migratory bird species. Some results have been particularly startling, such as the journey of a Red-necked Phalarope from Scotland to the eastern Pacific and back.

In western Ireland, GPS tracking is being used to study the interactions of Barn Owls with a recently constructed road. As nocturnal species are notoriously difficult to study, the GPS trackers provide an easy way of learning about their preferred hunting sites and distances covered. You can watch a fascinating recreation of a female Barn Owl's movements during the night on the BirdWatch Ireland YouTube channel.

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