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
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Adventure Scientists is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Bozeman, MT that equips scientists and researchers with high-quality data collected from the outdoors that are crucial to addressing environmental challenges around the world.
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Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
I am a biologist interested in land use change impacts on biodiversity and sustainable value chains. I work with productive sectors, incorporating biodiversity conservation as a criteria for planning and managing productive systems.
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Background in Computer Science, Developing Acoustic AI Tech at Synature
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I am both head of the Innovation department and a biodiversity consultant at the Biotope consultancy. Originally a botanist and GIS expert, I specialise in the management of innovation projects, in particular software and technological products dedicated to biodiversity.
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I build sensing and perceiving hardware that is designed to address issues that matter to me. That ranges from assistive technologies, to conservation ecology, and connecting individuals with place and each other.
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A conservation data scientist and field ecologist with broad interest in the application of machine learning and population genetics to the conservation of threatened species. Alex has conducted field studies throughout central and south America, the Caribbean, and North America.
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Professor of Biology at St. Lawrence University
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I'm a PhD researcher at Royal Holloway University of London (Centre for GeoHumanities) researching modalities of sound-sensing technologies across climate and conservation sciences. Interested in ethics and histories of acoustic monitoring as well as new visualization methods.
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Article
Rainforest Connection (RFCx) is bringing back the Arbimon newsletter for 2023! We're excited to share new features and tools of the platform, what's coming up, and some insights into our projects on bioacoustic...
23 February 2023
We're very pleased to announce the publication of new 'Good practice guidelines for long-term ecoacoustic monitoring in the UK', produced by Manchester Metropolitan University, Baker Consultants Ltd and a great team of...
23 February 2023
Rainforest Connection (RFCx), in collaboration with USFWS, seek four Puerto Rican field agents to assist in deploying and retrieving audio recorders for a long-term biodiversity monitoring project in and around six...
22 February 2023
Our group once again has openings for Research Assistants to work with us on our bioacoustics projects. A job ad and description of how to apply are below - please feel free to get in touch with any questions!
16 February 2023
The Cornell University Lab of Ornithology is seeking a Software Developer to join the K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics.
10 February 2023
You will develop and apply novel approaches and machine learning techniques for the detection, classification and identification of marine fauna from passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) validated with paired visual...
10 February 2023
IMOS Animal Tracking Facility is hiring a Technical Officer to assist with the preparation, deployment and maintenance of acoustic receivers to monitor movements of tagged animals & continue to develop operational...
7 February 2023
Are you excited by the potential for new technologies to help monitor the natural world? Do you enjoy communicating your passion for technology and nature with diverse audiences? We are seeking an enthusiastic...
2 February 2023
Consultancy opportunity at ZSL for an experienced monitoring specialist to support species monitoring in rewilding landscapes across Europe
31 January 2023
Are you stuck on an AI or ML challenge in your conservation work? Apply now for the chance to receive tailored expert advice from data scientists! Applications due 27th January 2023
18 January 2023
WILDLABS and Fauna & Flora International are seeking an early career Vietnamese conservationist for 12-month paid internship position to grow and support the Southeast Asia regional community in our global...
11 January 2023
To assist with creative research project in the DC/VA/MD region
6 January 2023
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43 Products
Recently updated products
Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
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Thanks Akiba, good to know you had no problems with those, and those cases look good. Having read a bit more, it actually seems that in theory there is no limit to the number of... |
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Acoustics | 6 months 3 weeks ago | |
You're awesome Tim, thank you! However, we ordered another from GroupGets yesterday and it's arriving tomorrow, so we (should) be good to go : ) Now if I can only get... |
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Acoustics | 6 months 4 weeks ago | |
Brilliant - thank you.! Great idea about the screen too - I'm replacing some of them monthly so may try that myself. Have you found any issues with the mesh generating... |
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Acoustics | 7 months ago | |
Hi Vicki,I've sent you a private message. |
+1
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Acoustics | 7 months 1 week ago | |
Thank you! |
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Acoustics | 7 months 1 week ago | |
A few more! |
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Acoustics | 7 months 2 weeks ago | |
Hi, thanks so much for getting back. You can reach me at [email protected] |
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Acoustics | 7 months 3 weeks ago | |
Interesting! Hi Sean, sounds like an excellent project. Definitely talk with the Arbimon folks! As @carlybatist said, I am working with birds in the Peruvian Amazon, but in... |
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Acoustics | 7 months 4 weeks ago | |
Hi everyone, I wanted to provide an update on behalf of Wildlife Acoustics regarding some of these comments in this thread. As some of you may know, we have just announced... |
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Acoustics, Sensors | 8 months ago | |
I second that! |
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Acoustics | 8 months 2 weeks ago | |
I wish to share an update on my MSc thesis project, that contributes to the field of decoding animal communication. In my work I... |
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Acoustics, Data management and processing tools, Early Career | 8 months 4 weeks ago | |
Hi Wildlabbers!We were asked to share this opportunity to present at the upcoming Audiomoth conference:Presenters are urgently needed -... |
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Acoustics | 9 months 2 weeks ago |
Training Opportunity: HarvardX TinyML Course
30 September 2020 12:00am
Webinar: Advances in Fisheries Electronic Monitoring
21 September 2020 12:00am
Amphibians and Acoustic Enrichment in Wildlife Passages
14 September 2020 11:18pm
Hackaday - Identifying Creatures That Go Chirp In The Night
11 September 2020 11:13am
Meet the Scientists of Black Mammalogists Week!
10 September 2020 12:00am
Tech Tutors: Review Session
3 September 2020 12:00am
African Bioacoustics Community Conference
28 August 2020 12:00am
Sustainable Fishing Challenges: Fishing Gear Innovations
19 August 2020 12:00am
Challenge: ElephantEdge
11 August 2020 12:00am
AudioMoth Water Resistant Case Design
26 July 2018 8:16am
23 August 2019 8:21am
Hi - I'm down to three sheets - the usable area is 12cm by 12 cm - I did post some cloth to the US and the total price was under $5USD which I think would be 80-100 Peso but equally happy to send to your friend. Email me [email protected] and we can sort out fine details - one thing is I'm away from home till early september. so couldn't send till then and the UK-Mexico post take about 5 days. Best Wishes - David Brown
10 August 2020 10:23pm
Hello to you all, I hope everyone is doing ok during this Covid-19 contingency.
Jsut sharing this adaptation for the water proof case for the Audio Moth.
https://www.tetrixecology.com/single-post/Developing-an-Enclosure-for-the-AudioMoth-Acoustic-Logger---Part-1
How do I build bespoke conservation technology?
20 July 2020 12:00am
Help with analysing bat recordings from Audiomoth
24 June 2020 12:47pm
9 July 2020 4:39pm
Johnnie, Hope you got on OK. If you need some data analysing I could help out if needed? Let me know on here - or email me a WeTransfer with some wav files?
Thanks, Carlos
14 July 2020 5:20pm
Hi Carlos
Thank you for your message. I would quite like to send you some files. What's the best email address to send them to?
Thanks
Johnnie
15 July 2020 11:08am
Tech Tutors: How do I scale up acoustic surveys with Audiomoths and automated processing?
8 July 2020 10:33pm
9 July 2020 6:11pm
Hi everyone,
Thanks for attending today's episode! You can find all of the collaborative notes at the link below, and we also encourage you to use this thread to connect and collaborate with the people you met in the chat.
https://notes.datawrapper.de/p/Tech_Tutors_Episode_4
We'll be posting the video and slides here tomorrow.
And as always, please use this thread to ask any follow-up questions you have for Tessa and the acoustic monitoring community!
-Ellie
Tech Tutors: How do I perform automated recordings of bird assemblages?
1 July 2020 10:44pm
8 July 2020 10:28pm
Hi everyone,
If anyone is looking for the episode's collaborative notes, you can find them here:
https://notes.datawrapper.de/p/Tech_Tutors_Episode_3
This doc features all the questions asked in this episode, as well as additional resources, participant introductions, and other helpful links.
-Ellie
Competition: Cornell Birdcall Identification
8 July 2020 12:00am
List of bioacoustics software
1 July 2020 3:23pm
How do I scale up acoustic surveys with Audiomoths?
25 June 2020 12:00am
How do I perform automated recordings of bird assemblages?
19 June 2020 12:00am
Seeking feedback: draft principles for responsible use of conservation surveillance technology
9 June 2020 6:29pm
How do I train my first machine learning model?
9 June 2020 12:00am
How are you using your Audiomoth?
14 September 2018 10:31am
25 September 2018 8:08pm
I'm in North Somerset UK and have two AudioMoths. I've adapted some waterproof cases which also can be locked and strapped onto a tree etc using a python cable. This allow me to use them safely in semi-public spaces. My interst is surveying for bats and recording them with the land owners. I got interested in having a recorder, when helping to trap for nathusius' pipistrelle on a site I've know for 10 years - and just because I was out later than I normally survey we found not only nathusius' pipistrelle but a passing Lesser Horseshoe on my Petterson M500usb - so I decided to get some AudioMoths and play!
My Website is here
26 November 2018 10:40am
As well as the points highlighted by Steph, Open Acoustic Devices are also running an online survey to capture the use of AudioMoth. To evaluate the global impact of open-source conservation technology, it is important to know how the technology is being used. This survey will go towards a human-computer interaction study into the usability of tech in conservation, and also used to evaluate the global impact of open-source conservation technology. AudioMoth is being used as a case study to identify best practises for open-source conservation technology development and accessibility.
It would be great to keep sharing your experiences on this thread and if you have time here with our online survey.
22 May 2020 7:32am
How do we get notified for the next group buy?
standards
21 May 2020 9:39pm
WILDLABS Tech Tutors: Season One
19 May 2020 12:00am
Audiograms- the range species can hear at
11 March 2020 11:50am
19 April 2020 8:07pm
I'm a primatologist so can't say too much about other mammal taxa, but I believe this is the most comprehensive resource for primate audiograms--
Coleman, M. N. (2009). What do primates hear? A meta-analysis of all known nonhuman primate behavioral audiograms. International Journal of Primatology, 30(1), 55-91.
7 May 2020 9:47am
Hi Isla,
Range at which animals hear sounds depend on 4 things:
1) the frequency (pitch) of the sound of interest. As a rule of thumb, lower frequency sounds travel farther since high frequency sounds are subject to more absorption transmission losses.
2) the medium in which the sound is being transmitted in (i.e. sound travels at ~1500m/s in seawater and ~340m/s in air).
3) the audiogram of the animal (i.e. what frequencies CAN they hear), which Carly is referring to in the previous comment.
There has been a lot of audiogram research on marine mammals. Find an overview and links to a handful of publications here: https://dosits.org/animals/effects-of-sound/measure-marine-mammals-reaction-to-sound/hearing-sensitivity-studies/ . This has also recently been explored in diving seabirds from SDU (university of southern denmark).
and
4) the noise levels in the environment, as sounds can only be distinguished if they have some decent signal-to-noise ratio.
If you have any specific more questions, get in touch.
Cheers,
Chloe
Any here used Cornell's Swift Recorder?
13 April 2020 4:33am
28 April 2020 4:51pm
Hi Daniella,
Yes, I have used SWIFT, SongMeter SM4, and Audiomoths. I find Swift to be the most energy efficient. They are also very affordable. Currently, they are my number one choice. In reality, however, I would say that whether you use Swift over other sensors, particularly Audiomoths, would depend on the type of study you want to do and how often you can get to the sensors to replace batteries. Happy to talk about cons and pros if you want. Just send me an email here: [email protected].
Cheers,
David
6 May 2020 8:13am
Hello Daniella,
We, WCS Mongolia, used lithium batteries for SWIFT recorders, the most of them still working in until now, since the last August.
At the Cornell SAW, they said alkanium battery will be working 27-44 days, and it depends on configuration sample rate.
We are configured 8K for sampling rate, and 24 hours recording.
Thanks,
Ochiroo
6 May 2020 8:22am
We used the following lithium batteries.
URL:
https://fortebattery.en.made-in-china.com/product/FBDEubqyfGhH/China-C-Size-Lithium-Batteries-Cr26500-Cr26500se-Er26500-Er26500m.html
Virtual Meetup Discussion: Acoustic Monitoring
10 March 2020 2:31pm
28 March 2020 8:24am
Hi all,
I missed this, but just watched the virtual meeting recording. Towards the end Stephanie mentioned there were many questions about recording multiple channels for localisation. I hadn't thought there was that much interest in it. Anyway my collaborator/client and I have been working on this off and on and slowly, but she did present some results she got at the recent conference in NZ. If there is any interest I'll see if I can get her to give out her slides or something.
On another tack I'm interested in the experience of anyone who has done gunshot/blast fishing localisation. In particular I'm curious about the algo used for detection and also for localisation. I'm taking the matched filter approach for detection but am now wondering if maybe CNN classification might be better.
Finally I'm interested if anyone has ideas about implementing a LoRa mesh, or knows of a useable mesh layer.
Thanks,
-harold
19 April 2020 8:09pm
Where would I be able to find the recording of this virtual meetup? Thanks!
20 April 2020 9:45am
Hi Carly,
The recording + our notes is here:
WILDLABS Virtual Meetup - Acoustic Monitoring
We also keep an archive of all past meetups here:
https://www.wildlabs.net/virtual-meetups
Steph
WILDLABS Community Call Recording: Rainforest X-PRIZE
30 March 2020 12:00am
Acoustic monitiring virtual meetup recording
27 March 2020 10:14am
Prior work on Bird Flock identification
22 March 2020 9:44am
23 March 2020 9:01pm
Hi Andrew,
Dan here—I'm one of the authors of the TinyML book! I love your Withymbe project; I've previously done work involving embedded systems and insects, and it's interesting to hear about your plans for bird flocks.
As long as you have sufficient data, you should be able to identify different bird sounds and discern them from background noise. The TinyML book has a chapter that introduces the underlying techniques, and I'd also recommend taking a look at www.edgeimpulse.com - we've built a set of tools designed to make it easy to train these types of models.
We actually recently published a tutorial on Wildlabs about this very concept:
https://www.wildlabs.net/resources/case-studies/tutorial-train-tinyml-model-can-recognize-sounds-using-only-23-kb-ram
I'm always excited to learn about new applications; feel free to reach out if there's any way we can help. I'm [email protected].
Warmly,
Dan
24 March 2020 3:49am
Just guessing but I don't think it will make much of a difference, individual or flock. The spectrogramme will look much the same, and I think that is used as the input vector to the CNN. If so then I would expect the model will be quite tolerant of flock size. Just spitballing here though.
24 March 2020 7:23am
Hi Harold!
Great to know you are in the domain. To be honest my analysis so far indicates that when conducting a DSP approach on the spectrum, smoothing via convolution becomes an issue? Basically, the raw spectrum is too jagged to match, so one convolves it to smooth it, but then one just gets a generic "noise"-shaped spectrum. I also have variances in sampled spectra from the same source recording? I am using an fs=44100 and a spectrum 0 - 64kHz initially, or though I tried to filter from 100 - 9k with little success?
My design outline is: I need to identify the presence of a flock of a certain species of avians, I need to know when the flock is not present, and I need to distinguish the presence of other flocks of birds, not to identify them, but they are sometimes similar in size and possibly, therefore, call range? A sort of "We - Not We" approach?
I am comparing the gestalt sound, not individual calls?
Plus: I am using a Rapsberry Pi for the Fog Node currently, but see that I can use my Arduino Uno for TinyML from the examples which use a Nano? I am interested in the power-saving, but need a robust microphone rig, which I currently get via usb?
I will checkout your tutorial, many thanks!
Tally ho!
Andrew.
Virtual Field Trip: Conservation Technology with Shah Selbe
24 March 2020 12:00am
22 August 2019 6:50pm
Hi, do you still have some left overs of hyrdrophobic cloth? I'm currently in Mexico but a friend of mine is in UK so she can bring them to me. Thank you so much.