Ouabache Land Conservancy advanced its Motus Wildlife Tracking Tower project earlier this week with a hands-on workshop held in Bedford, Indiana, marking a critical construction milestone for the initiative.

The workshop focused on preparing wiring for the Motus antennas and control box, an essential technical step prior to installation. Working collaboratively under Rick Nicholson’s expertise and direction, participants spent several hours crimping and assembling a large volume of wire needed for the tower’s operation. The session served as both a productive build time and a valuable learning experience for those involved.

The day benefited from the participation of Allen Pursell, Director of Forest Programs for the Sam Shine Foundation and Allisyn Gillet, Ornithologist at Indiana Department of Natural Resources, whose presence added depth and technical insight as the project moved closer to completion.

Special thanks go to Rick, who coordinated the workshop, sourced the necessary components, and generously hosted the build day at his location. Rick and his wife have a Motus tower at their home and also operate Raptors Rise, a bird rehabilitation center. By providing equipment, materials, and a warm indoor workspace, Rick helped streamline a complex phase of the Motus build and made the process far more efficient than it would have been otherwise.

This collaborative effort represents another important step toward bringing the Motus Tower online, expanding regional research capacity, and supporting the study of bird migration and wildlife movement throughout the Wabash River corridor.