It is also possible for an eagle to be monitored through several separate research projects over its lifetime.
Consequently, a claim that an eagle was tracked for 20 years needs clarification. Did researchers follow the same individual for that entire period? Was the bird monitored intermittently? Did the 20 years refer to the broader research project rather than the operation of one GPS unit?
These distinctions matter.
A long-term record could be scientifically valuable even if the device itself was replaced several times. But the details should be confirmed through the original research paper, conservation organization, or scientific institution.
Without that source, it would be misleading to claim that a particular eagle carried one GPS transmitter for 20 years or that scientists made a specific discovery from its data.
The Hidden World Revealed by GPS Maps
One of the most fascinating aspects of animal tracking is the way ordinary coordinates can transform into a picture of an animal’s life.