Forum on Wildlife Telemetry

Innovations, Evaluations, and Research Needs

21-23 September 1997
Snowmass Village, Colorado

This resource is based on the following source:

U.S. Geological Survey.  1997.  Forum on Wildlife Telemetry: Innovations,
     evaluations, and Research Needs; 21-23 September 1997, Snowmass
     Village, Colorado.  Program and Abstracts.  U.S. Geological Survey
     and The Wildlife Society. 82pp.

This resource should be cited as:

U.S. Geological Survey.  1997.  Forum on Wildlife Telemetry: Innovations,
     evaluations, and Research Needs; 21-23 September 1997, Snowmass
     Village, Colorado.  Program and Abstracts.  U.S. Geological Survey
     and The Wildlife Society.  Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie
     Wildlife Research Center Online.
     http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/wildlife/telemtry/index.htm
     (Version 25JUN98).

Sponsers and Contributors
Steering Committee

Session I -- Innovations in Transmitting and Receiving Systems

Chair: Jerry L. Godbey, U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Midcontinent Ecological Science Center, Fort Collins, Colorado

Enhancements to the Argos System - Benefits to biotelemetry.
Jeffrey Wingenroth
Satellite-monitored radio tracking of cetaceans: developments in transmitter package and attachment.
Bruce R. Mate and Rod Mesecar
Advancements in the use of GPS technology in obtaining position information from free-ranging wildlife.
Stanley M. Tomkiewicz, Jr
Field trials of the Lotek GPS collar on moose.
Arthur R. Rodgers and Elise J. Gallerani Lawson
LORAN-C as an automated telemetry system for tracking large ungulates.
Larry D. Bryant and Walter Fowler
Use of a prototype automated radio telemetry system to monitor avian survival and bird use of agricultural fields.
Harry L. McQuillen, Jr., Joseph P. Sullivan, and Larry W. Brewer
Advanced satellite tracking system will contribute to natural resources conservation and management.
William S. Seegar, Mark R. Fuller, Janis K. D. Seegar, and M. Blake Henke
A different approach to radio-location: a pulsed transmission, spread-spectrum, time-of-arrival system suitable for small animals.
Hugh J. Spencer, Frank Savaglio, and Doug Maskell
Recent developments in scanning harmonic radar for tracking insects in low-altitude flight.
Joseph R. Riley
Comparisons of accuracy among manual and automatic DF systems.
William W. Cochran, George W. Swenson, Jr., and Larry L. Pater

Session II -- Attachment Techniques: Methods and Evaluations, Successes and Failures

Chair: Pamela J. Pietz, U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, North Dakota

Some effects of radio marking on birds.
Mark R. Fuller, Kirk K. Bates, William S. Seegar, and Robert E. Kenward
Evaluating the effects of telemetry transmitter attachment techniques on waterfowl: a review and recommendations.
Kevin P. Kenow, Carl E. Korschgen, F. Joshua Dein, Annette P. Gendron-Fitzpatrick, and Eric F. Zuelke
An evaluation of two transmitter attachment techniques for double-crested cormorants.
D. Tommy King and Mark E. Tobin.
Eared grebes and implant radio-transmitters.
W. Sean Boyd and Saul D. Schneider
Radio attachment method and timing of attachment on breeding mallard females: impact on survival of their ducklings.
James H. Devries, David W. Howerter, Brian L. Joynt, and Robert B. Emery
Effect of radio transmitters on survival, harvest rate, and body condition of northern bobwhite.
Lori Corteville, L. Wes Burger, and Leonard A. Brennan
Evaluation of subcutaneous and intra-abdominal transmitter implants with external antennas in mourning doves.
John H. Schulz, Alex J. Bermudez, James L. Tomlinson, and Jeffre D. Firman
Methods for attaching radio transmitters to passerines and associated impacts to their behavior.
Clark S. Winchell, Timothy A. Burr, and Nancy C. Harvey
The problems and rewards of radio-tagging nestling thrushes - the design and testing of harnesses that accommodate growth.
Ian F. Hill, Brian Cresswell, and Robert E. Kenward
Evaluating small cetacean tags by measuring drag in wind tunnels.
M. Bradley Hanson, Andrew J. Westgate, and Andrew J. Read.
A pop-up archival tag for long term monitoring of large pelagic fish.
D. Weihs and D. Levin
Ball chain transmitter attachment for ranid frogs and kangaroo rats.
Galen B. Rathbun
Innovations in ear tag transmitters for bears.
Michael L. Gibeau

Session III -- Collection Of Physiological, Behavioral, And Environmental Data Using Telemetry

Chair: David W. Howerter, Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research, Ducks Unlimited, Stonewall, Manitoba, Canada

Behavior patterns in free-ranging black rat snakes.
Charles J. Amlaner and James H. Withgott
Use of implanted motion sensitive transmitters with remote data loggers to measure activity patterns in giant garter snakes.
Michael L. Casazza and Glenn D. Wylie.
Recording heart rates elicited by simulated prey and predator stimuli in turtles, lizards, and Sprague-Dawley rats.
Byron A. Campbell and Thomas McBride.
Circadian adaptiveness: performance of wild-caught, time-disadvantaged chipmunks free-living in natural habitat.
Patricia DeCoursey
Using Service Argos for real time tracking.
Mikael Sjöberg, Dave Thompson, Phil Lovell, and Ed Bryant
Satellite telemetry and post-release monitoring of a rehabilitated, stranded hooded seal (Cystophora cristata).
Greg Early.
Migration ecology of arctic nesting geese: results from five satellite telemetry studies.
John Y. Takekawa
Advances in determination of movements and behaviors in marine endotherms: 3D happenings in murky waters.
Rory P. Wilson
Activity indices from signal modulation.
William W. Cochran and Larry L. Pater
Crittercam.
Greg Marshall
USAF Animal Noise Monitor collar.
Michael C. Carter and John McQuiddy.

Session IV -- Data Processing and Analyses

Chair: Kevin P. Kenow, U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Upper Mississippi Science Center, LaCrosse, Wisconsin

Detecting and eliminating errors in radio-telemetry data sets: a comparison of screened and unscreened data.
Stewart W. Breck and Dean E. Biggins
Performance of a LORAN-C based automated animal telemetry system.
Bruce K. Johnson, Scott L. Findholt, Alan A. Ager, Michael J. Wisdom, and John G. Kie.
The effects of radiotelemetry triangulation error on determining habitat use.
Kevin M. Podruzny and Jay J. Rotella
Determination of locational error associated with Global Positioning System (GPS) radio collars in relation to vegetation and topographical influences of north- central New Mexico.
Kathryn Bennett, James Biggs, and P. R. Fresquez
Integrating GIS and home range analysis.
Samuel R. Anderson and Kenneth R. Dixon
Use of radio-telemetry to determine home range and habitat use of natural cavity-nesting wood ducks in southern Illinois.
Robert J. Kawula and R. J. Gates
Analysis of animal excursions and dispersal from radio-tracking.
Robert E. Kenward, Ralph T. Clark, Sean S. Walls, and Katharine H. Hodder
Effects of sample size on kernel home range estimates.
D. Erran Seaman
Use of ArcView Spatial Analyst with wildlife telemetry data.
Arthur E. Smith, John R. Cary, and Donald H. Rusch
Modeling manatee habitat use with telemetry data in a GIS.
Bradley L. Weigle and Richard O. Flamm
Program MARK: Survival Estimation from Populations of Marked Animals.
Gary C. White and Kenneth P. Burnham

Session V -- Current Issues and Future Directions in Wildlife Telemetry

Chair: Charles J. Amlaner, Life Sciences Department, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana

Transcript of Final Discussion Session -- Web version (225 Kbytes)

Paper Session Overviews and Discussion

Session I: Stanley M. Tomkiewicz, Jr., Telonics Inc., Mesa, Arizona
Session II: Jay J. Rotella, Department of Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana
Session III: Charles J. Amlaner, Life Sciences Department, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana
Session IV: Michael D. Samuel, U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, National Wildlife Health Science Center, Madison, Wisconsin

Key Topics and Discussion

Radio frequency allocation and coordination:
Noel M. Newberg, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Information Resource Management, Denver, Colorado

Animal Care and Welfare issues:
Some Animal Welfare Resources on the Internet
F. Joshua Dein
References for Animal Pain, Stress, and Capture Myopathy
Karen L. Machin

Future directions - Technological limitations and opportunities:
Cameron A. Grant, Grant Systems Engineering Inc., Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
Valerian B. Kuechle, Advanced Telemetry Systems, Isanti, Minnesota
Rory P. Wilson, Institut für Meereskunde and der Universität Kiel, Germany

Presentations in Evening Poster and Demonstration Session:

Software for rapid analysis and visualization of radio-telemetry data.
Alan A. Ager and Robert McGaughey
Problems and advantages of using radiotelemetry on Bornean mousedeer.
Abdul-Hamid Ahmad.
Integrating GIS and home range analysis.
Samuel R. Anderson and Kenneth R. Dixon
A comparison of strategies for processing azimuth data from multi-station radio-tracking systems.
Dean E. Biggins, Marc R. Matchett, and Jerry L. Godbey
Alternative methods for marking bobwhite broods.
A. Vincent Carver, L. Wes Burger, and Leonard A. Brennan
Time-in-Mortality: A new radio telemetry option.
Gary Corda
Locational accuracy of the Argos satellite telemetry system in a marine environment: Implications for spatial data analysis and wildlife management.
Charles J. Deutsch, Dean E. Easton, Howard I. Kochman, and James P. Reid
Telemetric transmission of load cell and activity data from animal trap sites.
Randal K. Drescher, Alfred J. Kolenosky, and Ken Smelquist.
Monitoring duckling temperature using a remote receiver/datalogger system.
Elston H. Dzus and Robert G. Clark
Retention rates and impacts of spear-suture and harness-backpack transmitters on wintering northern pintails.
Joseph P. Fleskes, David S. Gilmer, and Robert L. Jarvis.
An expandable telemetry collar for calf elk in Colorado.
David J. Freddy
Comparison of several home range estimators computed in commonly used software packages.
Elise J. Gallerani Lawson and Arthur R. Rodgers
Accuracy of aerial telemetry locations in mountainous terrain.
Glen F. Gantz and L. Charles Stoddart
Foraging and reproductive behavior of Indian flying fox (Pteropus giganteus) as determined by radio telemetry.
Surendra P. Goyal, J. B. Sale, and A. Gupta
A review of the use of radio telemetry in Indian wildlife research with a special reference to Indian wild ass.
Surendra P. Goyal and Nita Shah.
Success of leg harness transmitter attachment on several passerine species.
Catherine J. Henry, Mindy Hetrick, Bruce Vander Lee, and Sherry Skipper.
Expandable radio collar for black bear cubs.
Jennifer C. Higgins, Michael R. Vaughan, Dennis Martin, and Adam D. Vashon
Satellite telemetry to determine movement patterns and soaring altitudes of vultures.
John S. Humphrey.and Michael L. Avery
A comparison of home range statistics for woodland caribou calculated from GPS and conventional radio-telemetry locations.
Chris J. Johnson, Doug C. Heard, and Katherine L. Parker.
Design for a vehicle-mounted telemetry antenna.
Brian L. Joynt
Integration of SAS and GIS software to improve habitat use estimates from radiotelemetry data.
Kevin P. Kenow, Robert G. Wright, Michael D. Samuel, and Paul W. Rasmussen.
Demonstration: Ranges V - An analysis system for biological location data.
Robert E. Kenward and Katharine H. Hodder
An evaluation of implant transmitters for telemetry studies of black bears.
Gary M. Koehler, P. Briggs Hall, and Mary H. Norton
GPS-Simplex - A small, programmable collar with remote transfer of stored positions
Leif E. Loe and Per A. Lemnell
A comparison of techniques for anesthetizing waterfowl.
Karen L. Machin
Using hand-held pen computers in the collection and analysis of radiotelemetry data.
Bruce MacWhirter.
Radiotracking amphibians: lessons from external attachment and implant procedures.
Dale M. Madison.
Establishment and accuracy assessment of fixed-station telemetry systems with global positioning system equipment.
Marc R. Matchett, Dean E. Biggins, and Jerry L. Godbey
Accuracy and precision of satellite radio-collars deployed on free-ranging barren-ground grizzly bears in the central Northwest Territories.
Philip D. McLoughlin, Vivian Banci, and H. Dean Cluff
Remotely operated antenna system that mounts in a pickup bed.
Larry M. Mechlin and Hollis G. Sapp.
Time Difference of Arrival wildlife radiolocation system.
Shane Nelson, Cary Logan, and Annabelle Colestock
An acoustic-transponder tracking and data telemetry system for monitoring behaviors and determining real-time 3-D underwater locations from large marine vertebrates.
Thomas F. Norris, Marco Flagg, and Donald Croll.
Evaluation of a GPS used in conjunction with aerial telemetry.
Edward M. Olexa, and Peter J. P. Gogan.
The use of tape for attaching radios to Adelie penguins.
Christine A. Ribic
The effects of subcutaneously-implanted radio transmitters upon selected nesting parameters of canvasbacks and mallards.
Randy L. Riviere and Kevin P. Kenow.
Cost comparisons of large animal telemetry systems.
Arthur R. Rodgers
Use of solar-powered ear-tag transmitters to monitor movements and survival of white-tailed deer.
Christopher S. Rosenberry, Richard A. Lancia, and Mark C. Conner.
Movement patterns and habitat use of radio-tagged female manatees.
Monica Ross, Richard O. Flamm, and Bradley L. Weigle.
Telemetry error and the use of circular areas to estimate habitat use and uncertainty.
Kevin L. Sallee
The Biotas™ computer program and its utility for biogeographical data analysis.
Kevin L. Sallee and Karyn J. Sernka.
Data analysis system for triangulation and home range.
Joel Sartwell
Use of ArcView Spatial Analyst with wildlife telemetry data.
Arthur E. Smith, John R. Cary, and Donald H. Rusch
The use of microcontrollers in radio telemetry.
S. L. Struthers, R. A. Reichle, V. B. Kuechle, and S. B. Nuorala.
A new attachment device for radio-collars in collared peccaries in tropical rainforests.
Isa Mariela Torrealba Suarez, Jaime Ricardo Rau Acuna, and Jhonny Villareal Orias.
Thermoregulatory consequences of transmitter implant surgery in a small lizard.
Jocele P. Wang and Stephen C. Adolph.
A high accuracy, low power, remote temperature telemetry system.
Dave Ward and Kevin Lay
Satellite telemetry studies of bald eagles in Washington state.
James W. Watson and D. John Pierce
HOMERUN: Software for correctly calculating size of restricted minimum convex polygon home ranges.
Mike Weinstein, Mike Conner, George A. Hurst, and Bruce D. Leopold.
Enhancements to the Argos System - Benefits to biotelemetry.
Jeffrey Wingenroth
The challenges of capturing and tagging manatees along west coastal Florida.
Beth Wright, Bradley L. Weigle, and Scott D. Wright.

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