Tracking Migratory Birds in the Great Lakes

Tracking Bird Movements

Many birds beloved in the Great Lakes region, such as the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, actually spend just a fraction of their lives here in the upper Midwest! Hundreds of songbirds, waterfowl, raptors, marsh birds, and shorebirds travel across the Great Lakes states each spring and fall, as part of incredible migratory journeys—often spanning thousands of miles—to and from places such as Mexico, Costa Rica, and even Paraguay. During these migrations, these birds rely on Great Lakes habitats to provide refuge, so they can rest and refuel.  

By understanding where our birds are traveling, we can better protect them. To do this, Audubon has launched a network of wildlife tracking radio towers across the Great Lakes region to aid in research and protection efforts for migratory birds. Known as Motus towers, after “Motus” meaning “movement” in Latin, these stations pick up radio signals from any bird with a radio tag that flies within 11 miles of the site. With this information, scientists can track individual birds, learn what areas of coastal habitat are used during migration, and spot where vulnerable species might encounter threats to their survival.  

This data isn’t just regional—it reaches across hemispheres. Our Motus towers in the Great Lakes region connect important bird habitat in Illinois, Ohio and Michigan to a global Motus network, contributing to bird migration research across the entire hemisphere from Canada south to Central America, the Caribbean, and South America. With this technology, Audubon scientists can follow the path of a Kirtland’s Warbler from the jack pine forests of Michigan all the way to the Bahamas, noting the critical spots along the way where it finds food and refuge.  

Ultimately, Motus tower tracking helps us better understand migratory birds and protect them throughout their life cycles, supporting Audubon’s Migratory Bird Initiative. Bringing together migration tracking, bird banding, and eBird data from across the Western Hemisphere, this initiative works to protect migratory birds during and beyond their long travels, identifying threats and finding lasting solutions to ensure bright futures for these beloved species. Visit Audubon’s Bird Migration Explorer to explore the heroic annual journeys made by over 450 bird species, including those tracked by the Motus network! 

Partners on this project include the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Greenbelt Cultural Center, Lake County Forest Preserves, Chicago Botanic Garden, Lake St. Clair Metropark, Huron-Clinton Metroparks, City of New Baltimore Water Department, City of New Baltimore Parks and Recreation Department, Wigwam Bay State Wildlife Area, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and Grange Insurance Audubon Center.