Today we caught our first Swainson's Thrush with a GLS (Geo Location Service) tag! Months ago, PRBO attached these little tags to 35 Swainson's Thrushes before they left for their wintering grounds in Mexico and Central America. They returned in the spring and summer to breed.
The GLS tags are very tiny devices strapped onto the birds that stay with them as they migrate. The tags record light intensity throughout the day to determine the time of sunrise and sunset, which can tell us approximately the bird's location!
We had a bet going on what day we would catch the first Swainson's Thrush with a GLS tag. Unfortunately, I did not win, but it is still very exciting!
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| Barely visible on the bird. |
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| Snipping the GLS tag off. It fits like a little backpack! |
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| So tiny! |
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