As part of the telemetry initiative of the Midwest Migration Network, we are better trying to understand airspace conservation, stopover behavior and ecology, and phenology as it relates to migratory birds in the Midwest.
To do this, the group has made expanding the Motus network across midwestern states like Illinois a priority. The Motus Wildlife Tracking System is an international collaborative network of researchers that use automated radio telemetry to simultaneously track hundreds of individuals of numerous species of birds, bats, and insects. The system enables a community of researchers, educators, organizations, and citizens to undertake impactful research and education on the ecology and conservation of migratory animals. When compared to other technologies, automated radio telemetry currently allows researchers to track the smallest animals possible, with high temporal and geographic precision, over great distances. Much more about Motus can be found HERE.
When?
The first Motus stations in Illinois were placed in 2020. A systematic ‘northern fence of 9 towers spaced every 20-30 miles between Chicago, IL and Dubuque, IA was installed in 2023. Approximately 100 tags have been deployed on birds (Northern Saw-whet Owl, Wood Thrush) over the past year in just Illinois alone. Some tags have lifespans of one year while others may have lifespans of a couple years. Many more tags have been deployed the past year on other species outside the state. All of these tags have the potential to be detected by towers in Illinois—especially during spring or fall migrations. Two large collaborative projects involving mass deployments of tags over a two year period are currently underway (250 Northern Saw-whet Owl and 600 Wood Thrush) across the full ranges of these species.

Where?
There will soon be 41 Motus stations in Illinois. Staff at the university maintain 34 of these stations. Other stations are owned/maintained by USFWS, Great Lakes Audubon, Chicago Ornithological Society, and Kane/Lake County Forest Preserve districts. The Ward Lab at UIUC has made a conscious effort to install arrays of Motus stations in east/west orient fences every 15-20 miles across the state to systematically track birds as they migrate across the state. Three such fences exist: 1) along the I-64 corridor, 2) along the I-72 corridor, and 3) along the Wisconsin/Illinois border.
The following stations are maintained by UIUC staff. Bolded stations are locations of recent tag deployments:
- Illinois Ozarks Nature Preserve (Mike & Joann Fricke) 2024
- Peabody River King SFWA (IDNR) 2024
- Bohbrink Woods (IDNR) 2024
- Camp Dubois (Illinois South Conference UCC) 2024
- Wayne Fitzgerrell SRA (IDNR) 2024
- Ten Mile Creek SFWA (IDNR) 2024
- Kanella Renshaw (Natural Land Institute) 2024
- Kickapoo State Park (IDNR)/Kennekuk County Park (VCCD) – 6 stations 2020
- University of Illinois Campus (UIUC) 2020
- Allerton Park (UIUC) 2023
- Illinois Raptor Center (IRC) – to be installed 2025
- Mechanicsburg, IL – to be installed 2025
- Jubilee Farms (Dominican Sisters of Springfield) 2024
- Jacksonville, IL – to be installed 2025
- Spunky Bottoms (TNC) – to be installed 2025
- Siloam Springs State Park (IDNR) – to be installed 2025
- Chautauqua NWR (USFWS)/Emiquon (TNC) – 3 stations 2020
- Banner Marsh SFWA (IDNR) 2021
- Dixon Waterfowl Refuge (Wetlands Initiative) 2021
- Steve Birkbeck 2023
- Warren, Illinois 2024
- Hartman Lydon Wildlife Sanctuary (Jane Addamsland Park Foundation) 2023
- Sugar River Alder Forest Preserve (FP of Winnebago County) 2023
- Ken & Martha Reinert 2022
- Lake Petit (MPG Ranch) 2019
- Chain o’ Lakes State Park (IDNR) 2021
- Illinois Beach State Park (IDNR) 2021

Why?
Understanding bird migration and movement patterns more generally allows us make better informed and effective conservation decisions. It allows us to better protect migration corridors as we can help minimize mortality risks to heavily trafficked areas. It also helps us understand what breeding and wintering habitats should be protected—especially for sensitive species and those in decline.
While technology has increased what we can do to track bird movement and behavior in recent years, one major barrier to furthering the field is the weight of transmitters that can be placed on a bird. We have been able to place transmitters that collect GPS locations and transmit them via cellular data plans to the internet, but these transmitters are costly and cannot be safely or ethically affixed to birds smaller than 100 grams in most cases. However, smaller radio transmitters can safely and ethically be affixed to these smaller birds. The caveat is that it is necessary to have a tower/antenna near the path the bird travels in order to detect the bird’s location and obtain information about when/where/how the bird is migrating. This has led to the formation of the Motus network and the concept of our northern fence that would increase the likelihood of a bird being detected as it moved north or south into or out of the state.

How?
Site Selection
- Antennas are placed in areas with minimal background radio noise to reduce interference of signals.
- They are placed at an elevation above the surrounding area to increase the view of the horizon and the detection distance of potential tags.
- Attempts are made to secure sites in a way where equipment is not likely to be stolen or vandalized.
- Sites with electrical access are preferable though solar power options exist and are implemented at many of our stations across the state.
- We try to place antennas in a location that allows for individuals to easily access them for monitoring.
Establishment of Station
- The basic components of our Motus stations in Illinois include four antennas (each cardinal direction), a power system (battery, solar panel, charge controller), and a receiver.
- Frequently antennas are mounted to a 25G Rohn tower (20-40’) which is secured via wire rope to earth anchors. However, some of our antennas have been attached to existing structures (ie. 100’ Chautuaqua fire tower).
Station Maintenance
- Ideally, towers would be monitored monthly. We are looking for volunteers willing to be trained to monitor a tower and then communicate with Mike Avara about tower status. Such volunteers would check battery voltage, extract the data from the receiver, and provide information about receiver function (if it is powered on, what LED lights are illuminated, etc.). This would be a 20 minute time commitment each month.
- Our lab visits the tower twice yearly (once in March and once August/September) to check antenna function, run diagnostics, and perform any other maintenance necessary.
Viewing Detections
- It is possible to view detections at our towers via the Motus website. Our project is #354.
- We also have a project specifically for our wood thrush tags #787.
- Further details about detections are available on request.