GPS tracking technology continues to be used to help understand the behavior or animals and help improve their survival.  The Kirtland’s warbler’s journey is now discovered thanks to solar location methods that are centuries old and the latest tiny technology combined together.

By knowing the travel routes and stopover locations of these rare songbirds, scientists can better plan their next innovative step in getting to understand the birds better using the GPS tracking devices. By tracking the birds throughout the year, scientists and researchers can get a better understanding of their fundamental biology.

The average Kirtland’s warbler weighs around .48 ounces which is equivalent to a baby carrot or a handful of potato chips. Each year, this rare songbird from North America travels approximately 4,000 miles traveling across mountain ranges, the Gulf Stream, the body of a continent and across the open ocean. Until now, its journey has always been a mystery.

Smithsonian scientists are now using light-level geolocators to track and map the Kirtland’s warbler’s migratory paths for a whole year. They are following them starting at their Michigan breeding grounds as they journey to their central Bahamas winter homes and back again. The data the scientists collect is anticipated to enable conservation managers to get a better understanding of how to manage the warblers’ habitat which back in the 1970s was close to extinction but have since made a significant comeback.

The songbirds’ mortality rate is substantially high which seems to happen during migration and indicates that the conditions encountered by the birds while they are migrating could be a huge factor in the overall success or failure of the species.

This is North America’s rarest songbird and the one that is most endangered. The objective here is to track them throughout the year to know where and why this species of birds among others are dying.

In 2014, sixty male warblers weighing .5 grams each and at least two years old were equipped with geolocators. One year later, almost half of the same birds were recaptured at the same breeding sites in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and the research team was able to retrieve 27 of the geolocators providing them with a lot of data.

This data provided the research team with critical information including the stopover areas the birds rested at and refuel during their journey. Most of the birds on their southbound flight seemed to stop in upper Mid-Atlantic States or southern Ontario for their initial rest.

They would then stop along the coastline in South or North Carolina to fuel up again before they continued their journey across the open ocean making their way to the Bahamas. On their western route trip back, the birds flew across the Gulf Stream and rested in Florida for a bit. They then stopped again in northern Florida, southeastern Georgia or southwestern South Carolina for another rest before they continued on to the Appalachians.

Mopeds offer an eco-friendly transportation option to people who are looking for an inexpensive tool for transportation as well as those who are concerned about the carbon footprint they leave behind. They can also be a great deal of fun to ride.

Because of this, they are attractive targets for thieves looking for a joy ride or to make a quick dollar. You’ve made a considerable investment in your moped. These tips will help you protect that investment.

Double Up on Your Locks

Thieves prefer targets of convenience. They want to do the least possible work in the shortest amount of time. Doubling up on your locks means they have to do twice the work to accomplish the same task and often means they’ll move along to a more attractive target. More importantly, make sure one of those locks is a secured lock that is properly anchored. Also, avoid the temptation to go cheap when looking for bike locks. Choose quality over price instead.

Park in a Well-Lit, Busy Area

Another thing thieves don’t typically like is to shine light on what they’re doing. These are people who like to live in shadows. Keep your moped parked in a lighted area that has a fair amount of foot and road traffic. The busier, the better. This makes it more difficult for thieves to find a window of time when it will be easy for them to take your moped without being seen by others and far more likely for them to move on to a more attractive target.

Install a GPS Tracker on Your Moped

GPS tracking may not deter theft, but it can assist greatly in the recovery of your moped if it is stolen because it allows for real-time tracking of your scooter. You can give law enforcement the GPS information about your moped and they can track your scooter to its exact location. Better yet, you can establish electronic perimeters for your scooter and will receive email or text alerts when it leaves that perimeter or is operated outside of designated hours. This means you will know immediately when it has been stolen saving precious time in your recovery efforts.

Motor scooters and mopeds offer many benefits to travelers today. In addition to convenience and fewer emissions, modern mopeds can get up to 200 miles per gallon – so fuel efficiency is beyond reproach. It’s an investment in your transportation, the planet, and far more fuel efficient than the average car. Protect your investment with these valuable tips and use GPS tracking for mopeds to facilitate the return of your moped if it is stolen.

Ordering your favorite pizza from Dominos will be getting faster and easier than it’s ever been.