Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for July–September 2025
Motus Installations and Maintenance with the American Bird Conservancy
by Chris Kelly, Western Region Avian and Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel Biologist
I n September, just as fall migration was heating up, NCWRC made big strides in expanding the Motus Wildlife Tracking network in western NC. “Motus” is Latin for movement or motion, and this track- ing system is designed to follow the movement of birds, bats, and even large insects. These receiver stations are tuned to two radio frequen- cies programmed into tiny radio tags designed for small-bodied ani- mals. With help from Garrett Rhyne, the Southeastern Motus Coordi- nator (American Bird Conservancy), NC Wildlife and its partners installed 3 new Motus receiver stations and performed maintenance on three existing stations across western NC. Within days of installation, the UNC-Asheville Motus station, sit- uated on the campus’s Observatory Hill, detected a silver-haired bat that was tagged in southern Ontario. The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation is hosting a station installed on the Wilson Center. The Cane Creek Preserve Motus station, hosted by a private land- owner through the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy detected a sharp-shinned hawk tagged in New York. Garrett helped NCWRC staff diagnose issues with existing Motus stations and one was quickly relocated to NCWRC’s Kings Bridge property along the French Broad River. More information can be found at https://motus. org/. Stay tuned as we highlight tag detections at these stations.
CHRIS KELLY/NCWRC
Garrett Rhyne (American Bird Conservancy) attaches antennas to the mast.
CHRIS KELLY/NCWRC
CHRIS KELLY/NCWRC
KENDRICK WEEKS/NCWRC
Left to Right: Dr. Andrew Laughlin of the UNCA Biology Department assembles antennas. Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation installed a Motus station on the Wilson Center. NCWRC’s Motus station on William H. Silver Game Land.
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