A Motus station attached to a pavilion on an interpretive centre. The centre with the station is situated in wetland habitat. The station is a building-bracketed DMX tower with four antennas, three of which have 9 elements and one has 6 elements.

Support a Motus Station

The strategic expansion and maintenance of Motus stations across the landscape makes it possible to track the movement and behaviour of birds, bats, and insects in ever greater detail.

Credit:Daniel Giesbrecht

Host a station on your property

Motus stations need to be strategically located to ensure comprehensive coverage and effective tracking of tagged wildlife. 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.

A Motus station bracketed to a barn. The station consists of a DMX tower with solar power, two 9-element antennas, and three 6-element antennas. The barn in situated in a grassland.
Golden Nugget Tower (McIntyre Ranch) Credit: Ralph Thrall III

Sponsor a station

One of the greatest challenges is funding the installation and maintenance of Motus infrastructure. Individuals or organizations can help by covering the cost of the materials, installation or maintenance of a Motus station. This may be on land you own and plan to host a station on, or you may wish to support an existing station elsewhere. 

A general donation to Motus, or a partner working with Motus, is another way to contribute to station maintenance, tagging efforts, or system operation and development. Your support makes a difference!

Donate now
A person installing a Motus station, drilling climb shields onto a rock-anchored DMX tower. A solar panel is mounted on the tower. The background features bedrock, scattered shrubs and trees, and a frozen ocean.
Consolation Point Credit: Felix Boulanger

Maintain a station

A Motus station may require periodic checks to download data, upgrade software or hardware, and identify or troubleshoot any issues that may arise. Having local supporters dedicated to maintaining the stations helps conserve resources that would otherwise be spent on travel.

A Motus station attached to a wooden utlitiy poll. Attached to the utility pole is a black rubbermaid storage container containing the battery and receiver, a solar panel, two 9-element antennas, and two 6-element antennas. In the background of the station is a white truck, some low vegetation, pine trees, blue sky, and distant mountains.
Utility Pole (Powder King) Credit: Amie MacDonald

Learn more about how to support a station

What is a Motus station?

What makes a site suitable for a Motus station?

What does a station cost?

Who installs Motus stations?

How much maintenance is required?

What is a Motus station?

At the basic level, a Motus station consists of one or more antennas 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. 

Photos of Motus stations
Two people standing on a Motus station. The station is a standalone DMX tower guyed into the ground. On the tower is a solar panel, receiver, steel box containing the battery, one 9-element antenna, and three 6-element antennas. Also pictured is a silver truck containing Motus equipment. In the background of the station is a few small buildings and a lagoon.
El Cardón - Laguna San Ignacio Credit: Julian Garcia Walther
Close-up view of a Motus station attached to the side of a wooden building near the roof with large rectangular windows below. There are two 9-element antennas and one 3-element antenna mounted to a black metal pole that are mounted above a flat roof. Coiled black cables are attached to the pole, connecting the antennas to the receiver in a black box mounted at the base of the pole.
A Motus station bracketed to a green building in a coastal area overlooking the ocean. The station is a standalone Golden Nugget tower with two 9-element antennas. The building is situated on a grassy area with a picnic table in the background and cloudy skies.
A Motus station installed on a flat rooftop with a city skyline in the background. The station features one 9-element antenna, two 6-element antennas, and is mounted using a non-penetrating roof mount.
A Motus station bracketed to the left side of a white building with a brown sloped roof. This station is a standalone DMX tower with four 9-element antennas. There is a road in the foreground, forest in the background, and dimly lit skies.
A standalone Motus station with a single vertical onmidirectional antenna. The antenna is mounted to a painter's pole with a solar panel on the ground propped against. The station is located on the edge of a mowed lawn with natural vegetation behind it, coastline in the background and blue sky.
A Motus station attached to a metal windmill situated on a pasture with mountains in the background.

What makes a site suitable for a Motus station?

  • Unobstructed line-of-views for antennas, usually the highest point on the surrounding landscape 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
Map of Motus stations
A person wearing safety gear climbs a DMX tower. The worker is in the process of installing a mast to the top of the tower that will support Motus antennas. The tower is beside a river, surrounded by forest and blue skies.
Delta Rio Colorado Credit: Julian Garcia Walther

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. While they can be built for less, we generally offer an estimate of roughly $7.5-10K USD as a ballpark for the purchase, installation, and maintenance of a “typical” station. 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.

Nine people pose next to a Motus station. The station is a mast with six antennas that is bracketed to a two-story brick building.
Cabo Rojo NWR Credit: Northeast Motus Collaboration

Who installs Motus stations?

Typically, the individual or group most committed to the station’s long-term success will coordinate the installation. Physical assistance with the process by a Motus expert is sometimes possible, however Motus is largely powered by volunteers and collaborators. 

Station Documentation
Two people climbing a Motus station. The station is a standalone DMX tower that is guyed into the ground. The people are attaching antennas to the top of the tower. Pictured are two 9-element antennas, and one 6-element antenna. The people are secured to the tower with harnesses.
Motus station install Credit: Northeast Motus Collaborative

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, this will happen automatically. When data does need to be downloaded manually, we recommend a station be checked at least 2-4 times/year. 

Station inspection Downloading data
A person kneeling to check the equipment inside of a black rubber bin under a Motus station on a wooden platform. The person is wearing an insulative jacket and gloves indicating a cold environment. There are wooden buildings in the background.
Cambridge Bay Credit: Elise Imbeau, Polar Knowledge Canada

Get Started

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

Contact Birds Canada

Contact your regional coordinator

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