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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Researcher at Forest Research Institute Baden-Wuerttemberg, Passive acoustic monitoring of woodcock
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Zoological Society London (ZSL)
Monitoring & Technology Lead, Conservation & Policy, ZSL
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PhD Student working on acoustics and hunting in tropical forests
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Dzanga-Ndoki national park biodiversity monitoring
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Orthoptera conservationist bioacoustics
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- @amykukulya
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Amy Kukulya is an ocean tech innovator and conservationist from the US. She has captured thrilling footage of megafauna using novel biologger and oceanrobotCams—SharkCam, TurtleCam featured across the globe on mainstream media outlets.
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Careers
Acoustic Monitoring Biologist (Avian)
Jerry Cole
The Institute for Bird Populations (IBP) seeks a biologist to assist with an autonomous recording unit (ARU) bird monitoring project at California off-highway vehicle recreation parks and other ARU monitoring projects...
19 October 2022
Link
"We develop the use of benthic species as animal oceanographers by combining archival (depth, temperature) data from animal-borne tags, passive acoustic telemetry & citizen-science mark-recapture records for the...
10 October 2022
Careers
Open Position at Cornell - Software/Firmware Developer
Holger Klinck
The Yang Center is seeking a Software/Firmware Developer responsible for designing, developing, improving, and maintaining embedded systems to acquire and process bioacoustic data. The
6 October 2022
Article
Audio Across Domains Workshop 2022
Tessa Rhinehart
A collaborative and cross-disciplinary meeting of audio data scientists spawns creative research collaborations
3 October 2022
Link
Authors developed system to acoustically identify individual animals (under varying conditions) using combo of multi-scale information integration, multi-channel audio & multi-task learning. Tested on captive group...
3 October 2022
Link
'The low-power camera uses power from harvested acoustic energy and communicates colour images wirelessly via acoustic backscatter.' - https://twitter.com/NaturePortfolio/status/1574863768714100738?s=20&t=...
29 September 2022
Authors 'examined effectiveness of acoustic monitoring compared to capture-based & video monitoring of seasonal swarming behavior among Myotis bats in UK. The 3 approaches have advantages & disadvantages for...
27 September 2022
Link
Authors demonstrated "a low cost, simple method to support acoustic tag surveys by identifying tags both from direct acoustic recordings & by reconstructing code packets from processed C-POD data. Method was applied...
26 September 2022
Careers
The Senior Conservation Technology Specialist will be responsible for providing technical advice and capacity development to GWP project teams on conservation technology, distilling challenges and lessons from project...
22 September 2022
Link
Authors developed reproducible passive acoustic monitoring pipeline to rapidly provide baseline information on invasive alien species (IAS); found that IAS occurrence related to high levels of human disturbance.
21 September 2022
Link
Authors "developed a three-hydrophone passive acoustic monitoring system that provides bearing information along with marine mammal detections to allow for informed management decisions in real-time."
20 September 2022
June 2025
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Julia Wiel
July 2025
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Vanesa Reyes
November 2025
February 2023
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Wildlife Acoustics
61 Products
| Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
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| Hi Ryan, hmm, I had no idea there was a microphone named that. I thought about how it’s used to lure birds for netting, and I like Greek Mythology. I thought it was a perfect fit... |
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Acoustics, Emerging Tech, Funding and Finance, Protected Area Management Tools, Software Development | 1 month 2 weeks ago | |
| Hi all, I'm Vainqueur BULAMBO. I'm looking for a fully funded PhD opportunity in ecological data science or conservation... |
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Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Autonomous Camera Traps for Insects | 1 month 2 weeks ago | |
| Really looking forward to following this project. I'm very curious how you'll be able to tease out different species, particularly among species that feature a variety of worker... |
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Acoustics, AI for Conservation | 1 month 3 weeks ago | |
| Yep see you on friday |
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Geospatial, Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Camera Traps, Citizen Science, Community Base, Data management and processing tools, Emerging Tech, Open Source Solutions, Protected Area Management Tools | 1 month 3 weeks ago | |
| Hi Danielle, A friend of mine was having a fellowship at K Lisa Yang Center and she successfully built a classifier for Javan Slow Loris. So far I only heard she only made... |
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Acoustics | 2 months ago | |
| Thank you so much! This is super helpful and I really appreciate the feedback! |
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Acoustics, Data management and processing tools | 2 months 1 week ago | |
| That's amazing thanks so much! |
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Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Data management and processing tools, Early Career | 2 months 1 week ago | |
| I have now built my fox and cat trap.I want to triger it by face reconition so not to get possums or goanners.Can you help ?Doug Hemingway.0418 390 701 |
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Acoustics, Build Your Own Data Logger Community | 2 months 1 week ago | |
| I just started using this software a few days ago and so far it has captured and kept my attention more than other programs such as Raven or Kaleidoscope. I have only been using... |
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Acoustics | 2 months 3 weeks ago | |
| As someone who is looking for a relatively simple solution for multiple collaborators (all with very little expertise in bats or acoustics) in a large consortium, I am curious as... |
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Acoustics | 2 months 3 weeks ago | |
| Highly recommend the Saffron Aid modified Song Meter Mini for a professional deployment. If you want to go down the audiomoth route it makes sense to look at options for the... |
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Acoustics | 2 months 3 weeks ago | |
| I think its possible. I spoke to Stuart at the BTO a while ago about this. It's just not available as an off the shelf solution yet. If you can get real time outputs on the pi (or... |
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Acoustics | 2 months 3 weeks ago |
