Effects of tracking devices on individual birds – a review of the evidence

We review long-term patterns of tracking device use and the reporting of the effects of such devices on individual birds. We assessed >3,400 primary references including >1,500 containing information as to whether effects were looked for and reported. Numbers of papers published increased at 4.4% per year. Research on foraging and energetics focussed on seabirds while work on habitat use and dispersal was focussed mainly on landbirds. Migration was the most common study topic overall and increased markedly from the turn of the century in all three bird groups. The proportion of studies reporting effects of devices on individuals declined at > 1% per year, while the proportion of studies providing no information on effects increased by ca. 0.7% per year. The presence of a control group increased the likelihood of a study reporting effects, (45% vs 33%). We modelled the probability of reporting effects separately for three bird groups and two attachment durations. Occurrenc...