Re: [SLN] Digest for swiftslocalnetwork@googlegroups.com - 3 updates in 1 topic

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Graham Cowley

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Aug 23, 2025, 10:54:44 AMAug 23
to swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com
Here in Church Stretton we still have a pair of swifts in a nest box, first noticed mid July (but might’ve been going in earlier). They did have chicks but not sure now.  

On Sat, 23 Aug 2025 at 07:58, <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
susan pride <susan....@gmail.com>: Aug 22 01:58PM +0100

I posted this on “All Things Swifts UK” FB page and thought it worthy of
sharing on SLN for discussion.
I’m not a bird ringer but those with this skill may have some comments.
Seems to be an interesting development in trackers. It is an advert for the
company making these , but interesting all the same. Photos show progress
of Stork Migration 12-20 August 2025.
 
Words below from the company CEO.
 
Currently, bird rings have to be read manually by people – ornithologists,
bird enthusiasts, or accidental observers. Without the human eye, nothing
was possible! In case of White Storks, during the entire lifespan of such
an individual, outside of the nesting site, there are usually only a few to
a dozen such readings, made at random locations.
But what if rings could send data by themselves? What if a chip embedded in
the ring automatically registered the bird’s presence, without human
involvement? In North America, a similar system already exists – MOTUS,
based on more than 1,000 receiving stations. The problem? Cost. A single
station is worth several thousand dollars.
We propose something completely different. The base stations already exist.
They are everywhere. There are billions of them. They are… our mobile
phones.
In cooperation with DRUID Technology, we created the INTERING system with
its core element – the INTAG. These are tiny nanotags (approx. 0.4 g),
which can be mounted in rings, leg flags, or directly on birds. Thanks to
this, they are suitable not only for storks, but also for birds weighing as
little as 15 g – e.g. swifts, wagtails, or swallows.
How does it work? Once a bird enters the range of a randomly encountered
phone (approx. 150 m), the INTAG automatically retrieves its GPS location.
This is a massive leap in quality – compared to geolocators, whose error
margin can reach hundreds of kilometers!
Currently tested on White Storks, INTAGs operate within the encrypted
network, consisting of hundreds of millions of devices. This means that the
number of location fixes increases hundreds or even thousands of times
compared to traditional rings. We can now track the route, speed, and
precise migration patterns of individual birds – almost in real time.
Why is this a breakthrough?
Low costs – the price of one INTAG is 69–89 USD, many times cheaper than
alternative solutions.
Zero mistakes – each INTAG has a unique digital identity, eliminating the
risk of misreading ring numbers.
Citizen science in practice – anyone carrying a mobile phone can become
part of a global network monitoring birds. Even if we don’t see the bird –
it only needs to fly overhead or perch on a roof nearby.
What’s next?
In summer 2025, the first 250 INTAGs were fitted to White Storks. The
initial data already reveal incredibly detailed insights into their
migration routes. And this is only the beginning! The next step is
miniaturization, which will make it possible to use the system on even the
smallest bird species.
INTERING is the vision of the “internet of animals” – a global network
where billions of phones help uncover the secrets of bird migration.
 
 
 
Regards
Susan Pride ( Harwell Swifts)
steveklikr <steve...@gmail.com>: Aug 22 03:14PM +0100

Fantastic!Count me in Steve HolroydSent from my phone
-------- Original message --------From: susan pride <susan....@gmail.com> Date: 22/08/2025 13:59 (GMT+00:00) To: swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com Subject: [SLN] INTERING – a new breakthrough in bird migration research I posted this on “All Things Swifts UK” FB page and thought it worthy of sharing on SLN for discussion. I’m not a bird ringer but those with this skill may have some comments. Seems to be an interesting development in trackers. It is an advert for the company making these , but interesting all the same. Photos show progress of Stork Migration 12-20 August 2025. Words below from the company CEO. Currently, bird rings have to be read manually by people – ornithologists, bird enthusiasts, or accidental observers. Without the human eye, nothing was possible! In case of White Storks, during the entire lifespan of such an individual, outside of the nesting site, there are usually only a few to a dozen such readings, made at random locations.But what if rings could send data by themselves? What if a chip embedded in the ring automatically registered the bird’s presence, without human involvement? In North America, a similar system already exists – MOTUS, based on more than 1,000 receiving stations. The problem? Cost. A single station is worth several thousand dollars.We propose something completely different. The base stations already exist. They are everywhere. There are billions of them. They are… our mobile phones.In cooperation with DRUID Technology, we created the INTERING system with its core element – the INTAG. These are tiny nanotags (approx. 0.4 g), which can be mounted in rings, leg flags, or directly on birds. Thanks to this, they are suitable not only for storks, but also for birds weighing as little as 15 g – e.g. swifts, wagtails, or swallows.How does it work? Once a bird enters the range of a randomly encountered phone (approx. 150 m), the INTAG automatically retrieves its GPS location. This is a massive leap in quality – compared to geolocators, whose error margin can reach hundreds of kilometers!Currently tested on White Storks, INTAGs operate within the encrypted network, consisting of hundreds of millions of devices. This means that the number of location fixes increases hundreds or even thousands of times compared to traditional rings. We can now track the route, speed, and precise migration patterns of individual birds – almost in real time.Why is this a breakthrough?Low costs – the price of one INTAG is 69–89 USD, many times cheaper than alternative solutions.Zero mistakes – each INTAG has a unique digital identity, eliminating the risk of misreading ring numbers.Citizen science in practice – anyone carrying a mobile phone can become part of a global network monitoring birds. Even if we don’t see the bird – it only needs to fly overhead or perch on a roof nearby.What’s next?In summer 2025, the first 250 INTAGs were fitted to White Storks. The initial data already reveal incredibly detailed insights into their migration routes. And this is only the beginning! The next step is miniaturization, which will make it possible to use the system on even the smallest bird species.INTERING is the vision of the “internet of animals” – a global network where billions of phones help uncover the secrets of bird migration.Regards Susan Pride ( Harwell Swifts) 
 
 
 
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Dick Newell <dick....@gmail.com>: Aug 22 09:17AM -0700

I wonder how this thing is powered, Battery? Solar?.
Can they really hijack every mobile phone for their own purposes? Or does
each mobile owner have to download an app to take part?
It seems to work on storks, a bit different from Swifts.
Dick
 
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Edward Mayer

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Aug 31, 2025, 3:30:44 AM (8 days ago) Aug 31
to swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com

Hi Tim, Excellent and useful information, especially about the mud, and also your other very good article about Swift Towers. All most useful! Best wishes, Edward

On 31/08/2025 07:58, swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com wrote:
timothynorriss <t...@norriss.me>: Aug 30 12:41AM -0700

You can read here about how Swifts and other urban birds are faring on this
1980 estate and an adjacent new estate with integral bird bricks installed.
Tim Norriss
Hampshire Swifts
https://www.hampshireswifts.co.uk/post/north-baddesley-and-mountbatten-park
Dick Newell <dick....@gmail.com>: Aug 30 09:16AM +0100

Nice story Tim
Dick
 
On Sat, 30 Aug 2025, 08:41 'timothynorriss' via swiftslocalnetwork, <
Tim Norriss <t...@norriss.me>: Aug 30 08:47AM

Thank you Dick
 
From: swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Dick Newell
Sent: 30 August 2025 09:16
To: Swifts Local Network <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [SLN] North Baddesley - Hampshire Swifts
 
Nice story Tim
Dick
 
On Sat, 30 Aug 2025, 08:41 'timothynorriss' via swiftslocalnetwork, <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com<mailto:swiftslocalnetwork@googlegroups.com>> wrote:
You can read here about how Swifts and other urban birds are faring on this 1980 estate and an adjacent new estate with integral bird bricks installed.
Tim Norriss
Hampshire Swifts
https://www.hampshireswifts.co.uk/post/north-baddesley-and-mountbatten-park

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Tim Norriss

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Aug 31, 2025, 5:19:38 AM (8 days ago) Aug 31
to swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com
Thank you Edward 
Tim

Sent from my iPhone

On 31 Aug 2025, at 8:30 am, 'Edward Mayer' via swiftslocalnetwork <swiftsloc...@googlegroups.com> wrote:


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