Expert: Roger Lederer - 11/30/2009

Question
I actually have a series of questions, which i thought would be more convenient if i asked them all in one go. These questions are directed towards medium to large sized birds such as parrots and relate to banding.

- Do permanent rare earth magnets, when  attached to birds, effect its migration capabilities?
- The maximum mass a bird can lift without effecting it's flight behavior (eg maximum size of a band that can be used)?
- Where is the ideal place to electronic trackers (eg GPS) and why?
- Is it possible to attach electronic tracking devices (eg radio transmitters, GPS etc) to the birds wings effectively?
- The average flapping speeds and rate of the wings?

Regards.

Answer
I can't give you specific answers, but I'll tell you what I know.
Magnets have little affect on a bird's migration abilities - but I presume you actually mean navigational abilities? The maximum mass a bird can lift depends totally on the bird and the kind of device and where it is placed. GPS tracker location? Usually on the back because they don't interfere with flight much and can be attached where there are few nerve endings. Never heard of a tracking device placed on wings. Average flapping speed depends totally on the species of bird.  Don't know what you mean by rate.

Here are some websites  you might want to peruse: http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlife/article.cfm?articleId=682&issueId=26 ;http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/life_sciences/report-26132.html;http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/reprint/111/1/259.pdf;http://www.jstor.org/pss/1541047; and http://www.mmoca.org/starrytransit/scientific_investigation.php.Keeton of Cornell University perhaps has done the most well known research. You really need to look at the scientific literature in journals for detailed information.