Tracking your bird

[MaraWentz]

So, has any one heard of GPS tracking for birds? I know they don't have implantable because microchips can't receive data (like from satellites), but I know they have them (GPS tracking) for dogs and cats to go on the collar. I thought about microchipping, but really, if some one finds a parrot worth a couple grand and it's friendly enough to go to them or easily be caught, who is going to turn it in to a shelter? Most would steal it or some, who love birds, would put up posters or an online ad (which probably wouldn't be seen since they can cover such great distances) to keep it from being thrown into a shelter. SO I figured microchipping has a very slim chance of working for a friendly bird. You'd have to get some one who doesn't love birds, but cares enough to turn it in. So any one heard of GPs for pet birds? i know they have them for wildlife, but I haven't seen any open to the public.

 

[Mayden]

Maybe it's just me but any bird I'd come across would be taken to the vets and get scanned. I don't know why people wouldn't think about doing that since a lot of people do get their birds microchipped and I'd hope to god that if someone found merlin they'd take him and do the same...

Lots of wild birds have gps trackers to see their emigration and breeding patterns etc. never really thought of doing it for a domestic bird tho. It's something to look into, some birds have the gps tracker attached to their feathers near their neck, or around their leg just like a normal leg ring... just a bit bulkier.

 

[MaraWentz]

Where have you seen the gps tracker on the leg? I have heard that they can't do that yet because of battery size

 

[MonicaMc]

Since parrots have hooked beaks, are inquisitive, and tend to destroy things, I would assume that a GPS tracker would be out of the question to put on them, as nice as one may be... I think I recall seeing one that went on the birds back, but could be wrong.

Would probably be easier to identify via a microchip, leg band, photos of the birds entire body, and writing down any unique thing your bird does or says.

 

[Mayden]

MIcrochipping, leg band if they have one, unique markers about your bird and keep up to date records of appearance and photos. So if it's a bird that molts out new colours etc... you have an up to date picture of your baby.

The leg attachment is for the HUGE birds sort of things. Huge birds of prey and all that kind of stuff. I'm sure I've seen it on falcons and stuff in case they 'lose' their bird.

 

[MaraWentz]

Ugh..... They need to invent something for partrots, so where if they fly away or are stolen we can track where they are I thought about microchipping, but tracking would be so much more useful and it gaurunteed to find your bird if it could be implanted. Some one needs to get on this right way lol

 

[DebsFlock]

They track birds in the wild quite often with radio trackers, but I don't know offhand how they are attached and if they'd be suitable to use with pets. You could try looking up studies on wild bird populations and migrations and maybe talk to one of the researchers to see if the technology might be adaptable.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

My friend who's a falconer put's trackers on his falcons when he flies them. He has to have a big antenna that beeps louder when it's facing the direction of his bird.

 

[DiscoDuck]

Currently they cost thousands, the best ones with real time location data use solar cells. they start out at about 2 grams and get heavier with each option, for example I think the real time data adds a gram and half. If you decide to contact the link below, I'd suggest that you don't tell them it is for a pet. I get the impression they might hang up on you?? I mean, they expressly say these locators are not for pets nor are they for falconry etc. yet the trackers they make have the features we want for our pets. I guess liability of a lost exotic bird due to an endless list of possible malfunctions???? There is a 3% rule for small birds? Our BFA is 13ozx28.3 so he can supposedly carry roughly 10 grams??? They are built to order due to the supply/demand/scale of economy issue. Don't worry, i'd imagine the chinese will produce some thing that will be on all the WalMart shelves any day now. We have had great success with indoor free flying this winter and our little drama king definitely is loving his new found wings. All the indications are we can take him outside however, I don't want to until we've gotten hours of success in gymnasium/auditorium lengths. Meanwhile I have kept my eyes on these guys and have a quote for $2300 each for "quail" that "we" are studying in preparation to allow our little guy to do what he was born to do and allow us to have that little bit of assurance needed to track him down should he decide he is just having too much fun and go his own way. Should you decide to contact please go easy with these guys. Thanks!

 

[markilus]

Hi Guys,

I have a large Macaw and have been researching this quite closely (I'm in the UK). First up, researchers have tracked Parrots in the wild with VHF transmitters over up to 3 years including Hyacinth Macaws, so tracking your/my Parrot IS possible, however a suitable VHF transmitter for your Parrot will cost you around $260/£160, you'll then need a VHF receiver unit which will cost you around $850/£570 to $2,000/£1,400 (depending on its size and sensitivity) and then a suitable directional antennae for the above at a cost of around $250/£160 (looks like an old style TV aerial).

Recommendations are: For larger Parrots the VHF transmitter (which can be around the size of a partially squashed Walnut ) should be mounted at the base of the Tail feathers with a combination of glue and dental floss/cotton (I know - sounds awful and it's permanent) - the unit is attached to the Feathers and this is how they tracked the wild Hyacinths. Alternatively, you can look for the transmitter to be located behind the head using a harness which is clearly much more prone to beak attack! However in any event, both solutions will feature a 10cm aerial which will need to be either attached to a feather 'stem' with glue or bounce loose on the back . . . On the wild Hyacinths, they actually glued the aerial all the way along one of the tail feathers - but all this is pretty extreme!

Now onto GPS, there is a firm that is about to release (Sept 2015) the Worlds first live time GPS tracker which will tell you exactly where your bird is, provided you also have their VHF transmitter etc. etc. but I'm not sure of the cost. The Quail GPS system mentioned in the thread above won't help you track your Parrot practically, as it is designed to record the movement of a Bird and then ONCE YOU HAVE GOT WITHIN RANGE OF THE BIRD download it's movements. Infact, up to now that is ALL GPS tracking devices have done this on birds - you retrieve HISTORICAL data either by catching the bird and downloading it, or in the case of the Quaill system it transmits the data wirelessly from the bird, but will only tell you where the Quail has been. Upshot of the situation is, if you've lost your bird/Quail then the GPS recorder won't help you at all, but if you do find him you'll at least know where he's been hiding!

So, in summary what we have here is:

a) Permanent attached VHF transmitter to the top of your Parrots tail complete with Super Glue and string - aerial taped to a tail feather :-( (worked on wild Hyacinths)

b) Neck and back based rucksack style transmitter with a long and highly chewable aerial presumably boucing around unless we revert to Glue again . .

and finally:

c) A set-up bill of around $2,000 - $3,000 (£1,400 - £1,900)

I do free fly my Parrot now and he's given me a few heart attacks, but mid term I will be investing in a VHF transmitter/receiver/aerial system once I can stump up the money . . not keen on the Glue though

Take care

Mark