New Motus tracker at OPG’s Des Joachims GS helping to keep an eye on birds
OPG is continuing to keep eyes on the skies to help track bird migrations.
Recently, the company’s Des Joachims Generating Station became the latest OPG site to install a Motus Wildlife Tracking System receiver, a special tool used to record the movement of birds over vast distances.
The Motus network, a program of Birds Canada in partnership with collaborating researchers and organizations around the world, helps track the flight paths of thousands of tagged birds, bats, and large insects by scanning the sky for signals 24 hours a day year-round. The data gathered from this initiative is proving to be a valuable resource for research and conservation efforts.
As part of its commitment to protect Ontario’s biodiversity, OPG has been a big supporter of the multinational program as this is the sixth tracker installed at an OPG facility.
“Being able to contribute to wildlife conservation and protection efforts with projects such as this makes it all worthwhile in the end.”Andy Narezny, Environmental Chemistry and Safety Technician with OPG
“The Motus Wildlife Tracking System will provide Birds Canada and other researchers with valuable data on wildlife migration patterns for years to come,” said Andy Narezny, an Environmental Chemistry and Safety Technician with OPG. “Being able to contribute to wildlife conservation and protection efforts with projects such as this makes it all worthwhile in the end.”
The tagged species lend many opportunities to learn something new about our environment. Through watching and observing their movements, researchers can evaluate what changes are taking place, including effects from climate change, and prepare for possible ecological challenges that may arise.
Early last year, OPG also partnered with Birds Canada to participate in the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas surveys, which help guide and inform future environmental policies and aim to assist in the conservation of varying bird species.
Wildlife recorded by the new Des Joachims receiver is available for viewing on the Motus Active receiver deployments website.
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