Coupling Tracking Technologies to Maximize Efficiency in Avian Research

Abstract

ABSTRACTDirect marking and tracking of wildlife using telemetry is widespread and critical to understanding many aspects of wildlife ecology. For most species, researchers must select between multiple tracking technologies that represent trade‐offs among data requirements, mass, and cost. Options tend to be more limited for smaller, volant species. We developed and tested a unique combination of a store‐on‐board Global Positioning System logger with an independent very‐high‐frequency (VHF) tag (hereafter, hybrid tag) fitted on the greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) with a modified harness design in northeastern Wyoming, USA, 2017–2018. We compared hybrid tags with other tracking technologies commonly used in avian research, namely VHF and Argos satellite relay tags. Given our research objectives, that required both frequent location data and field‐based observational data, we found the hybrid tags were the most cost‐effective option and capable of collecting more location data compared with Argos tags because of power savings associated with data transmission. Cost savings allowed us to avoid sacrificing sample size while still obtaining high‐resolution location data in addition to field‐based observational data such as the presence of chicks. We believe our hybrid tags and harness design would be beneficial to research on other avian species of comparable size to the greater sage‐grouse and those that are relatively localized year‐round, including many other Galliformes. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.