Virtual birding : extending birdwatching to review acoustic recordings

Abstract

Observations made by birders have been integral to avian research and conservation efforts for decades. However, broader sources of data about avian activity are needed, to improve the information available for environmental management. Technology advances have seen acoustic monitoring emerge as a new way to study birds. The ever-increasing raw data from acoustic sensors requires processing, to extract information about bird activity. This is a difficult analysis problem, as there are just under 900 bird species in Australia and most have multiple distinct, yet variable, calls.There is an opportunity to extend birding activities to include collection and review of The research methodology was framed around User-centred design and Reflective Agile Iterative Design. The five qualitative research activities used interviews, field studies, exploratory prototype websites, and questionnaires. The results showed that participants invested energy into observing birds at favourite local areas and that their identification skills were region-specific. Many birders were eager to find uncommon birds on bird walks, and in recorded audio from places and times of day that were otherwise difficult to access. Acoustic recordings offered opportunities to enhance birdcall identification skills and find birds that may otherwise be undetected. Birders could apply their acoustic identification knowledge to recorded audio, to identify a range of birdcalls with moderate accuracy, with the aid of spectrogram images: time-frequency-amplitude visualisations of recorded audio. This thesis contributed website interface designs based on birding practices, to enable experienced birders to apply knowledge and skills that are not available elsewhere. These results indicate that integrating scientific acoustic monitoring endeavours into Australian birders' practices can provide expanded and reliable information for avian research and conservation efforts.iv

Characterization of Birdwatching Demand Using a Logit Approach: Comparative Analysis of Source Markets (National vs. Foreign)

“…The application of the new technologies to the ornithological market [ 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 ], together with the possibilities of the development of new destinations [ 44 , 45 , 46 ] are the most current topics that have been added to the existing literature.…”