Motus is a diverse, collaborative network of researchers, practitioners, organizations, and individuals working toward shared science and conservation goals. Everyone is welcome to support and participate in its mission.

Motus stations are installed in strategic locations around the world to collect valuable data on animal behaviour and movement. Highly versatile, Motus stations can be deployed in a wide range of environments. With a clear line of sight, antennas can detect animals in flight within 15–20 kilometers.

Motus tags are among the smallest tracking devices available, enabling researchers to monitor a wide range of birds, bats, and large insects. Each tag emits a unique signal, allowing the simultaneous tracking of thousands of individuals.

Motus stations record detections of tagged animals within their range, logging the time, signal strength, and receiving antenna. This data helps researchers infer information such as an animal’s behaviour, timing, direction, and speed of movement.

Data from Motus stations is either downloaded manually or transmitted to Birds Canada, where it is processed and stored in a permanent archive. Most Motus data is openly accessible, promoting transparency and facilitating reuse by the research and conservation community.

Motus offers a range of data products for both researchers and the public. Researchers have full access to their raw data for in-depth analysis, while the general public can explore visually summarized data, making it more accessible and engaging.

Motus data supports scientific publications, wildlife management, conservation initiatives, and biodiversity-related databases. Motus opens the door to exciting new opportunities for public engagement, fostering greater awareness, appreciation, and involvement in conservation efforts.