The number of Motus wildlife tracking stations in the west has grown from 6 in 2018 to over 100 in 2022. Very little guidance for how to test whether a station is detecting tags exists currently. I will go over the current suggestions and then present recent developments in standardizing testing protocols. I will present work by several co-authors on how we might use drones to test tag detection as well as statistical methods for presenting station detection effectiveness. I also present simple methods that can be accomplished by anyone installing a Motus station using a test tag on a PVC pipe and a GPS or smartphone. Finally I will give links to resources for tag and station testing.

Pat has a PhD. in Behavioral Ecology from University of Toronto, focusing on evolution of insect mating behavior, sexual selection, and life history evolution. After a decade doing academic research and teaching, that included radio tracking insects with the USDA, Pat moved to working at a large county-level park system managing permits, research, and monitoring. This is where he set up four Motus stations to track migratory birds as they cross Lake Erie. Pat has installed Motus stations throughout California. He does data analysis and grant applications aimed at strengthening the role SSRS plays in regional conservation.