Eavesdropping on wetland birds

Eavesdropping on wetland birds is a project that heralds a new era in environmental monitoring. Using acoustic monitoring technology and remote motion-sensor cameras, the project extends the scope of time and location data collection to detect wetland bird species and monitor their diversity. The timing and frequency of the noises the birds make vary seasonally, and they can be used to detect breeding events.

Led by a team of Charles Sturt researchers, comprising Dr Elizabeth Znidersic, Dr Michael Towsey and Professor David Watson of the Gulbali Institute, the project focuses on a selection of wetlands in south-eastern Australia and Tasmania. The research aims to improve understanding of the distribution of little-known wetland bird species, trial large-scale deployment of acoustic sensors alongside manual data collection and improve artificial intelligence training datasets.

As indicator species of wetland health, the status of wetland birds can shed light on the overall health of these ecosystems and inform future management decisions.