Capturing bird song to understand the state of ecosystems

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The time when breeding birds are most active is at sunrise, according to SAWIG coordinator Rebecca King.

Radio-Canada

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Throughout the fall, an environmental group in Stratford recorded the song of birds in the area, a way to learn more about the state of the ecosystem.

< p class="StyledBodyHtmlParagraph-sc-48221190-4 hnvfyV">Thanks to this initiative of the Stratford Area Watershed Improvement Group (SAWIG), devices were installed in forests and near waterways in order to capture the sounds emitted by birds in their habitat. Software then made it possible to identify the song of each of the species found in the region.

It’s a great way to study bird behavior without disturbing them, says SAWIG coordinator Rebecca King. We will continue to use this system in the coming years.

The data collected in the fall seems to reveal that the ecosystem is doing well in Stratford.

The analysis of the songs mainly made it possible to identify species of birds that do not migrate, notably crows and blue jays. A few chickadees, American robins and wrens also appeared in the recordings.

The group emphasizes having also captured the song of the Pewee at Fullerton Creek of the East, a species at risk.

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SAWIG plans to repeat the recording exercise in the spring and summer, or during the breeding and nesting season of birds.

The group then hopes to capture the songs of other migratory species.

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To capture the song of birds, the SAWIG recorders are attached to trees as well as other stable objects.

In the long term, this data collection will make it possible to make projections on the health of the ecosystem.

The presence of a large number of bird species in a specific area is a very good indicator of ecosystem health, says Rebecca King.

Based on reporting by AlexMacIsaac, CBC