Yet, they are so powerful that we can track a bird to within 150 meters. The birds are being housed in a box atop the Dominion building at the corner of Cary and 7 th streets in Richmond. The transmitter, developed by one of Dominion s FalconTrak partners, North Star Science and Technologies of Baltimore, was designed to track birds, said North Star s Jim Dayton, who supervised the transmitter fittings. The transmitters weigh just 16-20 grams, are weatherproof, and feature an external antenna. It is possible that this babysitters will help them learn to fly and hunt.
Scientists attach the webbing to young falcons when they have reached nearly full physical size.
The webbing is carefully integrated with feathers to prevent any injury or discomfort, or any interference with the falcon's normal lifestyle or activities. North Star and Dominion are two of the eight partners in FalconTrak . Over the next few weeks, transmitters will be placed on four more birds that will be released at Shenandoah National Park. FalconTrak partners will outfit another 11 birds with transmitters. Those birds will be located on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and at Shenandoah National Park.