There is so much data that can be gathered using modern wildlife telemetry that it is easy to just put tags on animals and see what we get. But this approach can lead to problems, which can easily be avoided. The best approach is to have clear goals at the outset of the project.
Having clear goals does not mean that you cannot get more than you expected out of the data. With today’s movement ecology systems, you may certainly be able to answer more than one question. With these technologies, you should be able to get more data, often more than you can use in a single study. However, you want to make sure the ultimate goal of the project is successful.
My advice? Do not shy away from asking for people’s help and insights. This will ensure you have the correct knowledge, duty cycle, and tools to be successful. Manufacturers, colleagues, and other collaborators can enrich your thinking about what is possible, what will be beyond the currently available technology, and what will be relatively easy. You can find allies who want to participate in advocates for a given species, NGOs, various levels of government, and even property owners.
My other recommendation is to find the right collaborations. The data and modeling that you can get from this technology leads to a ton of information and opportunities to gain insight into behavior and movement. However, this leads to the need to have specialist to help model the data and get the most from it. Try to find someone who can help you with this. At the minimum, especially early in your career, find someone who looks at your project a bit differently. They may see other opportunities you might have missed.
I love science because I love to find new information or to see how things work, but I get just as much excitement in great collaborations. Collaborations can take several forms, be formal or informal, and help you keep your project commitments realistic, timely, and innovative.
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