Only about one in every five birds that scientists tag is captured again the next year. Recapturing a bird is a challenging task. A year later, the scientist will return to the same location and attempt to re-capture the bird. Once the device is firmly attached, they release the bird, and the light-level geolocator starts collecting data. Scientists then carefully position the tiny light-level geolocator on the bird’s lower back, using a harness that loops around the bird’s legs. Once a bird is caught, researchers place an aluminum band and a unique combination of colored plastic bands around its legs, so they can identify captured individuals. Researchers capture birds in mist nets-tall, long nets made of very fine threads that blend into the surroundings. These locations are often where birds breed in the summer or where they spend their winters. When scientist use light-level geolocators to study bird movements, they need to travel to the locations where they can find the birds they are studying. How do scientists use light-level geolocators to study birds? Because of this, these devices are incredibly lightweight (just 0.3 grams) and can be placed on any bird that weighs more than 7 grams. Recording light levels does not require a lot of electricity, so batteries for these devices can be very small and last longer than a year. A light-level geolocater has a light sensor, an internal clock, a battery and a computer that stores a measurement of the amount of light that the sensor is exposed to. Light-level geolocators are tracking devices that use daylight to estimate location. Just as scientists can determine the sunrise and sunset time based on location, they can also use sunrise and sunset times to predict a location. Explore the sunrise and sunset times where you live. Using the day of the year and our planet’s tilt and speed of turning, scientists can predict the sunrise and sunset time at any location on Earth. This is because the Earth is tilted on its axis. In Washington, D.C., a city that is about 200 miles (330 kilometers) from New York, the sun rises at 5:43 a.m. But did you know that it rises and sets at different times across the globe as well? For example, on the summer solstice, the sun rises at about 5:24 a.m. What time does the sun rise where you live? You probably know that the sun rises and sets at different times throughout the year.
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