View the eagle's current location 
Transmitter Technical Specifications:
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Physical Specifications for 70g Argos/GPS Transmitter:
Weight: 70 g (2.5 oz)
Dimensions: L 98mm x W 34mm x H 24 mm
( L 3.9" x W 1.4" x H 0.97" )
Power Source: solar cells with rechargeable battery
Materials: The housing is epoxy glass plated with metal coating. Antenna is made from hard nylon coated flexible marine grade stainless steel material.
Manufacturer: Microwave Telemetry, Inc, Columbia, MD, USA
How we fit the transmitter to the eagle:
A transmitter is fitted on an eagle nestling when it has reached full body size (approximately 7-8 wks old). A custom made backpack harness is slipped over each wing and fit snugly over the eagle’s shoulders. The harness is then trimmed and secured with metal grommets and treated with a dab of superglue. The feathers around the transmitter and harness are protected during this process to prevent transfer of the glue and ensure the feathers can be preened naturally around the unit.
How we get the satellite location data:
The transmitter is a hybrid GPS-PTT. The unit collects data on the eagle’s location every hour by referencing orbiting GPS satellites. It stores this data for 3 days and then transmits it to an Argos receiver on NOAA weather satellites. Argos then emails the data to CCB. We’ve also set up the data to be available on www.WildlifeTracking.org where the data is mapped every three days (the data transmission schedule of the transmitter).
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Data Examples:
We receive the data from the satellite in this format:
We run the data through a custom parsing computer program which extracts the data and separates the GPS, Argos, and engineering data into different files. The data then looks like this:
Types of location data:
We receive 3 types of data from the transmitter:
1. GPS locations: This data is collected on the hour every hour from dawn until dusk. We also collect an additional location at midnight so we can track where the eagle roosts (sleeps). The locations are accurate to < 18 meters (60 feet).
| Date | Time | Latitude (N) | Longitude (E) |
| 5/24/2009 | 0:00 | 36.90375 | -76.2014 |
| 5/24/2009 | 5:00 | 36.90374 | -76.2014 |
| 5/24/2009 | 10:00 | 36.90375 | -76.2014 |
| 5/24/2009 | 11:00 | 36.90376 | -76.2016 |
| 5/24/2009 | 12:00 | 36.90375 | -76.2014 |
| 5/24/2009 | 13:00 | 36.90374 | -76.2014 |
| 5/24/2009 | 14:00 | 36.90374 | -76.2014 |
| 5/24/2009 | 15:00 | 36.90375 | -76.2014 |
| 5/24/2009 | 18:00 | 36.90376 | -76.2016 |
| 5/24/2009 | 21:00 | 36.90375 | -76.2014 |
| 5/24/2009 | 22:00 | 36.90376 | -76.2016 |
| 5/24/2009 | 23:00 | 36.90375 | -76.2014 |
2. Argos locations:
The NOAA satellites also collect location data when the transmitter uploads GPS data to the Argos receivers onboard the satellite. The location accuracy varies depending on how many satellites are hearing the transmitter during the data transmission. The Argos locations are plotted on the wildlifetracking.org maps.
| 83736 Date: 05.24.09 16:38:02 LC:2 IQ: 66 Lat1:36.903N Lon1: 76.201W Lat2: 36.985N Lon2: 76.250W Nb mes: 007 Nb mes>-120dB: 000 Best level: -127 dB Pass duration: 523s NOPC : 2 Calcul freq: 401 652330.3 Hz Altitude: 0m 90 124 86 09 |
3. Engineering Data:
The transmitter records data on the battery voltage, activity of the bird (moving or not moving), and transmitter temperature.
| Date | Time | Satellite ID | Temp (°C) | Battery Voltage (V) | Activity | Latest Latitude (N) | Latest Longitude (E) |
| 5/23/2009 | 13:47:42 | M | 35.8 | 4.11 | 1 | 36.90375 | -76.201404 |
| 5/23/2009 | 13:51:43 | M | 39.5 | 4.11 | 40 | 36.90375 | -76.201404 |
| 5/23/2009 | 14:03:32 | A | 42.9 | 4.14 | 45 | 36.90375 | -76.201404 |
Help to support this eagle's satellite transmitter data - adopt the eagle at www.wildlifetracking.org.
