Lynnfield Middle School plays important role in MOTUS Migratory Bird Tracking Network!

On July 22, 2021, members of the Northeast MOTUS Collaboration installed a migratory bird receiving station at the Lynnfield Middle School. The school was selected as one of 50 sites in the New England network that tracks and transmits data of migratory birds all along the eastern seaboard as they pass from points as far away as Columbia, South America to Canada’s Hudson Bay.

Reedy Meadow, the largest freshwater cattail marsh in New England, and one of eleven Massachusetts’ National Natural Landmarks, is home to a number of important migratory bird species.

Since its installation, MOTUS has detected 12 birds of 7 species. The station’s first detection, on August 13, 2021, was a Red Knot that was tagged near Charleston, South Carolina.  During May 24-25 it was detected in South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Ontario.  It then disappeared into northern Canada for the breeding season.  By July it was on its way back south. On August 13, it passed over Massachusetts at Drumlin Farm, Lynnfield, Zoo New England and Martha’s Vineyard. Several days later it reached Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Most recently, a Bank Swallow was tagged on Prince Edward Island on June 28, 2022, and triggered detections at Ipswich River and Lynnfield on July 7, 2022.

The Northeast MOTUS Collaboration is an extensive partnership of the agencies: New Hampshire Fish & Game Department, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Massachusetts Fish and Game Department, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Maine Audubon, Massachusetts Audubon, New Hampshire Audubon and Willistown Conservation Trust. When fully operational, the MOTUS Wildlife Tracking System will connect enormous expanses of land through scientific research, for the benefit of both humans and wildlife.