Oystercatcher Torture (I mean research)

A few photos from a trip in early June. "They" implanted satelite transmitters into oystercathcers, this will enable "them" to see where these birds go for their wintering areas. This is still part of the same inter-agency oystercatcher work that I've been involved with for the past few years. It wasn't much fun for me to watch my friends with tubes down their throats, but I guess in the name of science it is for a good cause. I'm not really into animal touching...kinda wierd view for a biologist...but I just worry/hope that the question being asked is worth the means. But people do it all the time so it has to be ok right?

The Basset Hound is the captian of our charter boats dog...