The Use of Radio Telemetry in the Studies of Diving and Flying of Birds

Abstract

When the head of a restrained duck is placed under water, there is a progressive reduction in heart rate. By using radio telemetry, it has been demonstrated that during natural submersion there is no maintained reduction in heart rate below that seen when the duck is swimming. The classical idea that during diving in ducks there is selective vasoconstriction and anaerobiosis is thus open to question. The measurements of respiratory and cardiovascular variables in free flying birds have previously been restricted to flights of relatively short duration (< 20 s). Barnacle geese have been trained to fly behind a truck by imprinting them on a human. Heart rate and respiratory frequency have been measured by radio telemetry during flights averaging 14.4 min and at a mean air velocity of 18.7 m s–1.