ALBATROSS FLIGHT DYNAMICS
Aug 2022 – Sep 2024
Research Assistant @ Stony Brook University
Albatrosses embark on multi-day foraging trips in the open ocean, using winds and waves to conserve energy expenditure by fueling soaring flight. Fitted with an accelerometer (tri-axial acceleration sensor) and a GPS, we can analyze albatross flight dynamics relative to local wind and wave conditions.
I developed automated data and signal processing methods to analyze tens of thousands of sensor data hours, plus environmental data. As a result, I conducted a comparative study of the flight dynamics of five albatross species across two ocean basins (manuscript currently under review by Movement Ecology).
I wrote my master’s thesis on this project, titled: Differential Impacts of Winds and Waves on Albatross Energetics in Two Ocean Basins. I had the opportunity to present my work the 7th International Albatross and Petrel Conference (IAPC7) held in Ensenada, Mexico in May 2024.
I also worked on related projects, capturing and fitting gulls with sensors, and analyzing the ECG signals of albatrosses in relation to flight dynamics and environmental variables.
A black-footed albatross’ flight track with respect to the local wind field.
A black-browed albatross mounted with sensors (credit to Rachael Orben).
The steps of dynamic soaring (credit to Phillip L. Richardson)
Z-axis accelerometer signal: raw (red) and filtered (blue) using LULU filters. The black arrows point to flaps in the signal.
Me, presenting at IAPC7
All foraging tracks originating from Bird Island, South Georgia (yellow dot). Black = black-browed, blue = grey-headed, and red = wandering.
for more info…
Stay tuned for future updates and publications. This work is currently in the peer-review process.
For now, here is a YouTube video from PBS about soaring albatrosses: