Acoustic sensors enable efficient and non-invasive monitoring of a wide range of species, including many that are difficult to monitor in other ways. Although they were initially limited in application scope largely due to cost and hardware constraints, the development of low-cost, open-source models like the Audiomoth in recent years has increased access immensely and opened up new avenues of research. For example, some teams are using them to identify illicit human activities through the detection of associated sounds, like gunshots, vehicles, or chainsaws (e.g. OpenEars).
With this relatively novel dimension of wildlife monitoring rapidly advancing in both marine and terrestrial systems, it is crucial that we identify and share information about the utility and constraints of these sensors to inform efforts. A recent study identified advancements in hardware and machine learning applications, as well as early development of acoustic biodiversity indicators, as factors facilitating progress in the field. In terms of limitations, the authors highlight insufficient reference sound libraries, a lack of open-source audio processing tools, and a need for standardization of survey and analysis protocols. They also stress the importance of collaboration in moving forward, which is precisely what this group will aim to facilitate.
If you're new to acoustic monitoring and want to get up to speed on the basics, check out these beginner's resources and conversations from across the WILDLABS platform:
Three Resources for Beginners:
- Listening to Nature: The Emerging Field of Bioacoustics, Adam Welz
- Ecoacoustics and Biodiversity Monitoring, RSEC Journal
- Monitoring Ecosystems through Sound: The Present and Future of Passive Acoustics, Ella Browning and Rory Gibb
Three Forum Threads for Beginners:
- AudioMoth user guide | Tessa Rhinehart
- Audiomoth and Natterjack Monitoring (UK) | Stuart Newson
- Help with analysing bat recordings from Audiomoth | Carlos Abrahams
Three Tutorials for Beginners:
- "How do I perform automated recordings of bird assemblages?" | Carlos Abrahams, Tech Tutors
- "How do I scale up acoustic surveys with Audiomoths and automated processing?" | Tessa Rhinehart, Tech Tutors
- Acoustic Monitoring | David Watson, Ruby Lee, Andy Hill, and Dimitri Ponirakis, Virtual Meetups
Want to know more about acoustic monitoring and learn from experts in the WILDLABS community? Jump into the discussion in our Acoustic Monitoring group!
Header image: Carly Batist
Aarhus University
Biologist and Research Technician working with ecosystem monitoring and research at Zackenberg Research Station in Greenland
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- 216 Discussions
- 7 Groups
Assiniboine Park Conservancy
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- @StephODonnell
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WILDLABS & Fauna & Flora
I'm the Executive Manager at WILDLABS.
- 152 Resources
- 668 Discussions
- 30 Groups
Interested in automated insect monitoring.
- 0 Resources
- 15 Discussions
- 3 Groups
WILDLABS & Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
I hold a PhD in Biological Sciences and specialize in bioacoustics and passive acoustic monitoring of cetaceans in the Argentine Sea and Antarctica. Recently, I've also embraced computing to leverage technology in enhancing our conservation efforts.
- 7 Resources
- 2 Discussions
- 14 Groups
Freaklabs
I'm an engineer and product designer working on wildlife conservation technology.
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- 273 Discussions
- 14 Groups
- @JeremyFroidevaux
- | He/him
- 1 Resources
- 3 Discussions
- 2 Groups
- @TaliaSpeaker
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WILDLABS & World Wide Fund for Nature/ World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
I'm the WILDLABS Research Specialist at WWF-US
- 13 Resources
- 56 Discussions
- 24 Groups
Sustainability Manager for CERES Tag LTD. An animal health company; animal monitoring, conservation, & anti-poaching/ rural crime. Wildlife, livestock, equine & companion. #CeresTrace #CeresWild #CeresRanch
- 2 Resources
- 19 Discussions
- 24 Groups
Wildlife Drones
Wildlife Drones has developed the world’s most innovative radio animal-tracking system using drones so you can track your radio-tagged animals like never before.
- 11 Resources
- 8 Discussions
- 32 Groups
- @Antonio.A.Ferraz
- | him
Scientist interested in integrating remotely sensed habitat characterization with animal movement and acoustics datasets for conservation applications. Working at JPL and UCLA-IoES affliated
- 1 Resources
- 1 Discussions
- 1 Groups
Exciting opportunity for an experienced biodiversity monitoring expert in ZSL's conservation department
18 July 2023
Global methane data and new functionaity on the Carbon Mapper Data Portal
12 July 2023
Apply to work with an absolutely all-star group developing AI/ML techniques and models for acoustic monitoring!
28 June 2023
The GSMA ClimateTech programme
21 June 2023
Job opportunity in Leiden, The Netherlands
9 June 2023
Careers
Permanent and Full Time role at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
8 June 2023
Field Inclusive, Inc. is offering a $2000 travel award to students to attend bird-focused conferences, workshops, and trainings. Interested acoustic monitoring community members should apply by July 31st for...
2 June 2023
In this research, six acoustic indicators were used to evaluate the sound of the urban soundscape and the sound of birds in urban parks. The results of the research show that there is a significant relationship between...
2 May 2023
If you've been waiting to try a HydroMoth, join the GroupGets campaign before limited supplies run out
17 April 2023
The Project Manager will work to implement acoustic monitoring projects in countries worldwide with some of the biggest stakeholders in conservation tech and biodiversity monitoring!
12 April 2023
New paper in Trends in Parasitology discusses how acoustic monitoring can be used to assess presence and overlap of host or reservoir species, disease vectors and human activity.
8 March 2023
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43 Products
Recently updated products
Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
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Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Biologging, Camera Traps, Community Base, Data management and processing tools, Drones, eDNA & Genomics, Emerging Tech, Open Source Solutions, Remote Sensing & GIS, Software and Mobile Apps | 1 year 8 months ago | |
I love the idea of increasing international collaboration and inclusion within acoustic monitoring! I think there particularly needs to be more collab'ing between the terrestrial... |
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Acoustics | 1 year 8 months ago | |
Hi there Camilo, What an interesting project! If you are looking for a lower cost, but effective tools for acoustic monitoring you might want to look into two options: ... |
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Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Data management and processing tools, Sensors, Software and Mobile Apps | 1 year 8 months ago | |
I have been waiting for journal club to come back!! 10000% down.I agree with @StephODonnell, would love it to come back!!! And now that variety hour is happening, that's more of... |
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Acoustics, Community Base | 1 year 8 months ago | |
Alex,which one of thosehttps://selectronix.co.uk/collections/waterproof-acoustic-vents would be the appropriate for the Audiomoth case?Agus |
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Acoustics | 1 year 9 months ago | |
Hey maya, If you're free - come along to our Variety Hour call next week and ask folks there too. We're keeping the last 10 mins open for people to jump up and put out calls... |
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Acoustics | 1 year 10 months ago | |
@Andrew_Hill I wonder if you could let us know more about the time keeping difference btw the regular AudioMoth and the HydroMoth (which is said to do better)? |
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Acoustics, Marine Conservation | 1 year 10 months ago | |
The Bioacoustics Stack Exchange has now made it past the private beta stage and onto public beta as of July 26! This means that the site... |
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Acoustics | 1 year 10 months ago | |
Good afternoon,My name is Maya and I am writing to you as an intern at 'Sounding Images', a Berlin-based production company https://www.... |
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Acoustics | 1 year 10 months ago | |
I don't know if this was resolved, but if you copy this code into a python file in the same folder as your .wav files and then run it, it should rename everything. Try testing it... |
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Acoustics | 1 year 11 months ago | |
The Bioacoustics Stack Exchange has reached the Beta stage and is LIVE! It is also in a critical... |
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Acoustics | 1 year 11 months ago | |
Hi just bringing this thread back up to attention: the bioacoustics stackexchange is now up and running in beta form, and could use as much participation as possible to ensure its... |
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Acoustics | 1 year 11 months ago |
Hiring Chief Engineer at Conservation X Labs
1 May 2024 12:19pm
Attaching a directional microphone to a Wildlife Acoustics ultrasonic recorder?
29 April 2024 4:47pm
30 April 2024 6:19pm
Hi Jesse,
Thank you so much for your reply and for the fantastic knowledge and resources! I was unfamiliar with the plots, so thank you for providing some interpretation- I will have to work to better understanding them. This may change things (I was going off of experience from field work with the last iteration of this WA recorder which had omnidirectional recording) and I may choose to pilot the recorder without an external microphone this summer.
Regarding my plan for collecting behavioral data, I plan to follow 15 wild individuals in a reserve in Thailand (mostly dry evergreen and dry dipterocarp forest with some human modified areas). I intend to use instantaneous focal sampling to observe lorises in two shifts between 18:00-06:00h. During these focal follows I will record all behaviors at 5-min intervals and use all-occurrences sampling for social and feeding behaviors, using an established slow loris ethogram. Simultaneously, I plan to record vocalizations, with the help of a research assistant and field guide. So we will be carrying the recorder with us during behavioral data collection. I intend to match up the timestamped loris vocalizations with the behavioral data to understand the call's function.
30 April 2024 7:00pm
If you have the resources, I would suggest testing the sensitivity and directionality of the system at relevant frequencies both with and without an external mic, and let the results dictate which will be best for your case study.
Another thing to think about since you are manually taking the recordings is if a WA unit is really necessary. You're paying for the technology of a remote system without needing it. Other cheaper handheld recorders (such as Zoom recorders) could free up $$ for a higher quality directional microphone. Although of note is that common Zoom recorders like the H4n only sample up to 96kHz for which the upper frequency limit (48kHz) is getting very close to the frequencies you're likely wanting to measure.
The Bat Conservation Trust - Research Scientist (Quantitative ecology)
24 April 2024 7:29pm
WILDLABS AWARDS 2024 - Fostering bat conservation and citizen science in Zimbabwe: Establishing bat groups and training individuals to use bat detectors
4 April 2024 12:12pm
8 April 2024 9:29am
Thank you Carly!
We have over 60 bats recorded in Zimbabwe
19 April 2024 2:16pm
Abigail. I would love to know more and potentially support the initiative. Please send me more info on [email protected]
24 April 2024 2:27pm
Thank you Robyn. Sure I will send more information to your email
Thoughts on RooBadge?
2 April 2024 2:55pm
5 April 2024 12:31pm
Sound deterrents to prevent collisions with Kangaroos in Australia have been sold for many years. None have been shown to work. Whether the Volkswagen device will be any better waits to be seen. Collision data will have to be collected for a while to see if the VW device has any effect on collision rate.
8 April 2024 12:49am
That is an interesting concept, and it would be great if something out there worked. In the meantime, I will try not to drive at dusk 🦘
At one point, I knew the "sonic" animal guards were the most stolen components of cars. You head in, get groceries, and come out, and they are gone. They weren't on the car long enough for me to confirm that would work
20 April 2024 2:40am
Totally agree.
Inititally sceptical until I saw Helena and Graeme were involved.
MJ
4th International workshop on vocal interactivity in-and-between humans, animals, and robots
19 April 2024 3:03pm
Webinar: Bats and Wind Energy
18 April 2024 6:11pm
WILDLABS AWARDS 2024 - BumbleBuzz: automatic recognition of bumblebee species and behaviour from their buzzing sounds
12 April 2024 8:37am
12 April 2024 8:41pm
Super great to see that there will be more work on insect ecoacoustics! So prevalent in practically every soundscape, but so often over-looked. Can't wait to follow this project as it develops!
17 April 2024 10:23am
Thanks Carly! I will keep anyone interested in this project posted on this platform. Cheers
WILDLABS AWARDS 2024 - TimeLord: A low-cost, low-power and low-difficulty timer board to control battery-powered devices
5 April 2024 3:29pm
16 April 2024 9:34am
Thanks @Freaklabs, I think you'll really enjoy getting involved with this too as we're looking for input from makers in the community to get the most from the approach and to capture features and usability ideas from a large number of people.
I've a new modular drop-off tag build using @Rob_Appleby's original SensorDrop board that I think would be great for this project too to see if we can drop different compartments, or do various different timed events with the one TimeLord board.
Most importantly, we have to make it play a MIDI version of the DoctorWho theme song when you arm the device. That has to be the #1 feature if you ask me!
16 April 2024 9:35am
Reminds me that we should look at both terrestrial and marine applications when we get stuck in to the demo builds to make sure we cover use cases
16 April 2024 10:22am
'Most importantly, we have to make it play a MIDI version of the DoctorWho theme song when you arm the device. That has to be the #1 feature if you ask me!'
Seconded!
Wildlife Drones will be at the 21st Australasian Bat Society Conference
9 April 2024 6:03am
WILDLABS AWARDS 2024 - FinDrop: Accessible Acoustic Monitoring for Mesophotic Marine Environments
5 April 2024 10:22pm
7 April 2024 6:07pm
Congrats @MattyD797 and team!!! We do a lot of work in the underwater bioacoustic realm and your tool certainly seems like it would be a great instrumental addition to the community. Look forward to learning more about your project!
Liz
Underwater advertisement call of the threatened Telmatobius rubigo (Anura: Telmatobiidae
6 April 2024 9:56pm
Bioacoustic device security in urban parks
8 March 2024 2:49pm
24 March 2024 4:53am
Yes, I agree with Panji......make sure you have notes of where you put them and remember that photos of trees without leaves look completely different 6 months later......not that I would ever make that mistake.........well not again......especially after spending 2 days trying to find 3 ARU's.
24 March 2024 9:38pm
We suggest and use Python Locks for urban areas here in Australia. Can also screw the Mini 2 to a tree or phone post with the python lock.
5 April 2024 12:55pm
We've deployed passive acoustic monitors in various urban environments without any issues of theft, even in locations where camera traps and other technology has been historically taken or vandalised. I think acoustic sensors generally look less valuable than other technology, and I would recommend removing or covering any stickers or labels on devices that would otherwise make them more appealing! Placing them in hedgerows or on trees with some (but not too much!) foliage will help keep them well hidden too.
Not so silent spectators: How spectator vessels at international sailing regattas alter marine soundscapes
3 April 2024 4:50pm
Check out how water-based sporting events are impacting underwater noise pollution for marine life.
Seventh International Conference on the Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life
3 April 2024 4:34pm
Postdoctoral Research Associate in Ecoacoustics
2 April 2024 2:49pm
Think Wildlife Podcast | The Role of Bioacoustics in Conservation with Bourhan Yassin, Founder of Rainforest Connection
28 March 2024 11:27pm
Hi,
I am Anish and I'm new to this platform! I host the Think Wildlife Podcast and wanted to share a recent episode with Bourhan Yassini. We talk in-depth about the role of AI and bioacoustics in conservation. Tune in to listen more!
AI for Conservation!
4 March 2024 8:51pm
22 March 2024 12:29pm
Welcome, Have you considered participating in any of the AI for Good challenges. I find it is good way to build a nice portfolio of work. Also contributing to existing open source ML projects such as megadetector or to upstream libraries such as PyTorch is good way to getting hired.
GitHub - alexvmt/awesome-data-and-ml-for-good
Contribute to alexvmt/awesome-data-and-ml-for-good development by creating an account on GitHub.
GitHub
22 March 2024 5:57pm
Thank you for the tip! I'll definitely consider contributing to open source projects and taking part in challenges :)
25 March 2024 5:22am
We could always use more contributors in open source projects. In most open source companies Red Hat, Anaconda, Red Hat and Mozilla, people often ended up getting hired largely due to their contributions on open source projects. These contributions were both technical such as writing computer code and non-technical such as writing documentation and translating tools in their local language.
Add Bio-accoustics support · Issue #441 · microsoft/CameraTraps
Please kindly add support for using pytorch wildlife platform for bio-acoustics to analyses audio recordings of insects, birds and animals including sounds that are inaudible to human ears. Having ...
GitHubEuropean Congress on Orthoptera Conservation
22 March 2024 9:35pm
Recording Orthoptera Sounds: International Workshop (Italy)
22 March 2024 9:25pm
How does behavior influence the use of technology for animal detection ?
22 March 2024 7:49pm
Leveraging Actuarial Skills for Conservation Impact
15 March 2024 12:31pm
19 March 2024 6:35pm
Thank you for your response Akiba. I will have a look. 👏🏻
19 March 2024 7:52pm
I would look into the TNFD (Taskforce on Nature-Related Disclosures), Finance for Biodiversity, Accounting for Nature, etc. which are all focusing on how to incorporate nature risk into corporate reporting and sustainability frameworks!
20 March 2024 3:48pm
Thank you Carly, I will definitely take a look.
Unveiling the Cicada Symphony: Seeking Support for Bioacoustics Research
18 March 2024 12:41am
18 March 2024 3:25pm
Ah okay. I found it with google reverse image search:
I thought it would be huge, but it's little. Unbelievable what these tiny things can do for the price. Looks like the battery life will far exceed the capacity of the SD card in it (64GB).
19 March 2024 7:53pm
If you're interested in a free, no-code ecoacoustic analysis platform for your data, check out Arbimon!
BirdWeather | PUC
27 October 2023 7:45pm
2 November 2023 9:20pm
I love the live-stream pin feature!
14 March 2024 10:29pm
Hi Tim, I just discovered your great little device and about to use it for the first time this weekend. Would love to be directly in touch since we are testing it out as an option to recommend to our clients :) Love that it includes Australian birds! Cheers Debbie
16 March 2024 10:47pm
Hi @timbirdweather I've now got them up and running and winding how I can provide feedback on species ID to improve the accuracy over time. It would be really powerful to have a confirmation capability when looking at the soundscape options to confirm which of the potential species it actually is or confirm it is neither to help develop the algorithms.
Also, is it possible to connect the PUC to a mobile hotspot to gather data for device that isn't close to wifi? And have it so that it can detect either wifi or hotspot when in range? Thanks!
The Freshwater Sounds Archive
15 March 2024 10:32am
Introducing The Freshwater Sounds Archive, a global database of sounds produced by freshwater species.
Submit your species-specific or unidentified sounds to the archive now and receive recognition for your contribution in a forthcoming data paper as a co-author!
Senior Post-doctoral Researcher/Senior Research Associate Opportunity: Movement ecology of Greenland halibut
13 March 2024 2:00pm
30 April 2024 4:28pm
Hi Luke, sounds like an interesting project! One thing to note is the ultrasonic Wildlife Acoustics unit you're looking at is already fairly directional. Take a look at the horizontal directionality plot towards the bottom:
You can see that for the relevant frequencies for slow lorises ultrasonic calls (40-60 kHz), there is 25-30 dB difference between 0 and 180 horizontal degrees. It's not perfect, but is close to some directional mics, and if it works well enough for your project it would save a lot of time and testing!
If you do choose to integrate an external directional microphone, be careful with microphone placement to avoid potential ultrasonic reflections from any hard flat surface like a tree trunk, water surface, or the instrument housing itself. Here's an example of some echo calls from reflective surfaces from bat vocalizations:
It would be helpful to hear how you plan on obtaining behavioral information (and what kind) to correlate with vocalizations? Observations, cameras, biologgers, etc.? This could inform responses a bit more.