Support a Motus station

The strategic expansion of Motus stations across the landscape makes it possible to track the migration and behaviour of birds, bats, and insects in ever greater detail. Take a glimpse at the movement tracks of some incredible migratory animals through our Explore Page.

You can become part of the Motus station network by 1) hosting a station on your property, or 2) contributing financially to the cost of a new or existing station (i.e., sponsor a station). By contributing in these ways, you’re not just supporting a collaborative global initiative for migratory animal conservation science and research – you’re actively participating in it! You can support and engage in ongoing research, access data visualizations, and promote education on animal migration and monitoring technology.

1) Host a station on your property

Motus stations need to be strategically located across the landscape to ensure comprehensive coverage and effective tracking of wildlife movements. If you own land or a building that is suitable for a Motus station, you can volunteer to have a station installed and help grow the network.

2) Sponsor a station

One of the largest challenges with expanding the Motus tracking network is funding stations and their maintenance. Individuals or organizations can help by covering the cost of the materials and installation of a Motus station. This may be on land you own and plan to host a station on, or you may wish to sponsor a station elsewhere.

If covering a station cost in full isn’t feasible for you right now, you can also make a general donation to Motus. In this way, not only could you help cover a portion of the costs of a station, but you can also contribute to a tagging project, or support essential system operation and development. Your support makes a difference!

---

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Motus station?

At the basic level, a Motus station consists of one or more antenna that detects radio signals from tags, a receiver that interprets radio signals, a power source, and a structure that everything is affixed to. The setup of a station can be flexible and adapted to meet the needs of the host and site. Below are some examples of station installations that have been set up in the past 

Examples of Motus stations

Find more detailed information about Motus stations here: Motus Station Guide

What makes a site suitable?

Key factors for site suitability include unobstructed views for antennas, usually the highest point on the surrounding landscape. This may be a hill or other prominent feature, shoreline, a station attached to an existing building, or a standalone station that exceeds the height of any nearby trees or features. Along with the strictly necessary, there are some other features that make some sites better than others:

• Unobstructed line-of-sight for the antennas is essential
• Fills a gap in the network (20 km or more away from the next nearest station)
• Compliments a tagging project occurring in the area
• AC power adds reliability and reduces cost compared to solar and battery setup
• Internet (WiFi or hard wired) allows regular data uploads and quicker identification of issues
• Existing structures to attach the antennas to (like an unused TV or communications tower) can lower the cost of installation and increase long term durability
• Ease of access keeps time and travel costs down for installation and maintenance

Will a Motus station interfere with other communications?

Motus station antennas receive only and do not transmit. As such, there is no risk of interference with existing communication systems provided the antennas are spaced far enough apart when installed.

What does a station cost?

The cost of a station varies widely depending on the configuration of the station, number of antennas, needs for power, ease of access to the station, etc. We generally offer an estimate of roughly $7.5-10K USD as a ballpark for the purchase, installation, and maintenance of a “typical” station. In some cases, where existing infrastructure is already in place and can be used, the cost can be significantly lower. For installations in remote areas, or which require specialized contractors to install, the cost could be higher. The first step in pricing out a station will be to select the site and mounting structure to be used as that will determine the equipment needed.

Who installs Motus stations?

Typically, the individual or group most committed to the station’s long-term success will coordinate the installation. However as Motus is largely powered by volunteers and collaborators, physical assistance with the process by a Motus expert isn’t always possible.  Documentation and guidance on how to install are readily available online (see Additional Resources below). The difficulty or ease of assembling a Motus station varies along with the configuration of the station. Some varieties, such as a non-penetrating roof mount on a flat-roofed building can easily be installed by a couple people with no prior experience installing Motus stations. Others, such as installing antennas on existing towers, may require specialized equipment and certified personnel. In all cases, local assistance can usually be found in the form of Motus project collaborators, maintenance staff, or a handy friend.

How much maintenance is required?

Unless a station is damaged by rough weather, curious wildlife, or normal wear and tear, the amount of maintenance required following installation is usually minimal. Data recorded by the station must be uploaded to the Motus servers, but if the station is connected to the internet, cellular, or satellite, as most now are, this will happen automatically. When data does need to be downloaded manually, we recommend a station be checked at least 4 times/year. Occasionally a visit to a networked station is needed to check for structural issues or troubleshoot a problem with the data receiver. This can often be as simple as rebooting the computer.

How to get started

Reach out to Motus Central or your regional coordinator to discuss the potential of hosting a station on your property or your options for sponsoring a Motus station.

Additional resources

• About Motus: motus.org/about/
• Station Documentation: docs.motus.org/en/stations/stations
• Map of Motus Stations: motus.org/dashboard