BLOG POST: There and back again: gull migration data visualized
Read some interesting gull migrating stories in this latest LifeWatch INBO blog post!
In July last year, the gull tracking data from the 2013 breeding season was released as open data. This dataset has now been complemented with tracking data from the 2013/2014 migration/wintering season and the 2014 breeding season. The dataset now contains over 1.1 million occurrence records from 60 tracked gulls, including migration data, which wasn't included before.
The Herring Gulls don't migrate (a trip to the Nord of France at the most), but the Lesser Black-backed Gulls migrate to Spain, Morocco, or even further south.
Tracking data is not available for all gulls however: data collected by the trackers can only be retrieved via an antenna network set up close to the breeding colony. If the bird does not return to the colony or if it is impossible to establish a connection (e.g. because the bird has removed the tracker antenna), then the data are unobtainable, even though the tracker might continue to collect those (until the solar powered battery runs out).
From the 22 Lesser Black-backed Gull that were tagged in 2013, we were able to retrieve migration data from nine individuals on their return to the colony in March-April 2014.
Click on the link below to find an animated map aggregating all tracking data from the 22 Lesser Black-backed Gulls over 12 months (June 2013 - May 2014). Furthermore, some interesting migrating stories are highlighted: Did you know that gulls hitchhike too? And what has everyone's favourite gull Eric been up to?
The Herring Gulls don't migrate (a trip to the Nord of France at the most), but the Lesser Black-backed Gulls migrate to Spain, Morocco, or even further south.
Tracking data is not available for all gulls however: data collected by the trackers can only be retrieved via an antenna network set up close to the breeding colony. If the bird does not return to the colony or if it is impossible to establish a connection (e.g. because the bird has removed the tracker antenna), then the data are unobtainable, even though the tracker might continue to collect those (until the solar powered battery runs out).
From the 22 Lesser Black-backed Gull that were tagged in 2013, we were able to retrieve migration data from nine individuals on their return to the colony in March-April 2014.
Click on the link below to find an animated map aggregating all tracking data from the 22 Lesser Black-backed Gulls over 12 months (June 2013 - May 2014). Furthermore, some interesting migrating stories are highlighted: Did you know that gulls hitchhike too? And what has everyone's favourite gull Eric been up to?
