Scanning the skies for migrants: Conservation-focused opportunities for a pan-European automated telemetry network

Accelerated biodiversity loss during the Anthropocene has destabilised functional links within and between ecosystems. Migratory species that cross different ecosystems on their repeated journeys between breeding and non-breeding sites are particularly sensitive to global change because they are exposed to various, often ecosystem-specific threats. As these bring both lethal and non-lethal population impacts, many migratory species are declining, making this group especially vulnerable to global change. To mitigate their decline, research at a continental and flyway scale is required to adequately monitor changes in the demographic processes of populations and understand the needs of migratory species, during all parts of the annual cycle. The Motus Wildlife Tracking System (Motus) could provide a solution to data gaps that exist particularly for small and migratory species. Motus is an automated telemetry system for animal tracking, which originated in North America. It provides a collaborative network by using the same VHF radio frequency for all tracked individuals, in combination with an individual tag identifier. Motus can provide information on movements made by individuals of the smallest bird and bat, and even larger insect species, thus aiding our understanding of aspects of their migration that could impact demographic parameters. Here we emphasise conservation-focused research opportunities, with a particular lense on European migrant taxa. We highlight examples from the existing network, and identify geographical gaps in the network which need to be filled to track continent-wide movements. We conclude that Motus is a useful tool to produce individual-level migration information for a variety of small-bodied taxa, and that a drive to expand the network will improve its ability to conservation plans for such species.