June 20, 2025
In the latest chapter of the LIFE MareNatura documentary journey, the team traveled to Heraklion, Crete, to spotlight an innovative approach to seabird monitoring—combining advanced radar technology with expert fieldwork.
Hosted by the University of Crete and the Natural History Museum of Crete, the documentary crew met with Professor Stavros Xyrouchakis and researcher Anastasia Perodaskalaki, who presented a cutting-edge radar system designed to detect flying seabirds up to five kilometers away. This high-precision system filters out irrelevant data to focus on moving targets, such as birds traveling above a certain speed threshold.
As real-time movement data appears on screen, scientists coordinate visual confirmation using binoculars to identify bird species and verify patterns. This hybrid method—technology paired with traditional field techniques—enhances the accuracy and reliability of monitoring efforts.
Adding to its capabilities, the team is also developing custom software that tracks and logs each bird’s flight path. This data supports long-term studies on migration, behavior, and habitat use, feeding directly into the LIFE MareNatura project’s conservation objectives.
This field mission highlights how innovation, collaboration, and science-driven tools are redefining how we study and protect marine biodiversity in the Mediterranean.
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