In February 2024, not one but two crews set sail simultaneously for overnight catches in Quiberon Bay and on the Dumet Island plateau. Thanks to the help of the OFB Morbihan and the MNHN Dinard station (CRESCO), as well as several volunteer ornithologists, the Migratlane-telemetry team was able to tag no fewer than 17 wintering seabirds in the space of 4 nights.

And not just any birds! Two new species in this harvest with 4 common eiders and 2 red-throated loons. All this was complemented by common guillemots, razorbills and even 2 Brent geese having their midnight bath. All diving birds are fitted with GPS devices adapted to their size and taped to their back feathers. The tag will fall out after several weeks or months along with the feathers during moulting or due to tape wear.

As a bonus, a turnstone, another of the program’s target species, was caught in Quiberon’s harbour and is now wearing a small 3g GPS that may take us all the way to Greenland or Scandinavia.

Follow the birds’ routes on our interactive map.

Many thanks to all those who took part : drivers, crews and ringing helpers, during these, sometimes a bit rough, nights…