RATHBONE, N.Y. (WENY) -- Every year, millions of birds fly high above the Twin Tiers in order to migrate for Winter. That makes local bird watching not just a fun hobby, but an important resource for data that provides clues about the health of the environment. 

A few months ago the Chemung Valley Audubon Society celebrated their 75th anniversary. Now they have a new tool in Steuben County that will make it easier for them to keep track of the millions of birds that fly in the skies of the Twin Tiers.

Resting in the rolling hills of Steuben County is a small shed, located on Northrup Hill, but when you take a closer look, the Motus Station is responsible for tracking birds that make annual migrations all over North America.

"It's part of an international collaborative network of researchers and different groups and what they can do is they can put transmitters tags on birds, butterflies, mammals. And as the bird flies, or this animal flies across, and it comes in contact with one of the stations, it pings the station as a detection," remarked Martin van der Grinten of the Chemung Valley Audubon Society.

Data from these stations allows researchers and conservationists to develop plans to help preserve bird species from threats, such as deforestation, climate change, and resource depletion. Understanding their movement patterns could help conserve many of these species in a forever changing world.

"So as the bird flies, it'll be pinging the stations, and by then connecting all the dots, you can find the migration route for these birds. And by knowing these migration routes, it helps National Audubon and their mission to protect birds by knowing where the birds are heading, where their stopovers are, so they can conserve those areas," added van der Grinten.

The Audubon Society is hopeful that the station's findings not only will help with bird populations, but also promote birding as a hobby by letting people know what's in the area.

"We're occasionally seeing birds that are rare for our area, but with the Motus station constantly monitoring, there's a better chance that we'll be able to know that these birds are passing through. And that does give us a better chance to see them," said CVAS board member Bill Ostrander.

The Motus Station's data is public and can be viewed here. Located at Northrup Hill Sanctuary, the station is adorned by several public walking trails, perfect for avid birders.