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2022 Recipients

Monitoring Wolves in a Tributary of the Fraser River to Inform Indigenous-Led Conservation


2022, 4th Quarter

Chelsea Greer, M.Sc.

Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Canada

Gray Wolves (Canis lupus) are British Columbia’s most ecologically significant terrestrial predator, and after decades of bounties and poisoning, they have made a recent comeback. Despite their ecological importance, little is known about the Gray Wolf population in southern BC, and abundance estimates are needed to inform long-term conservation. Our research will use passive acoustic monitoring to determine the number of wolves (and wolf packs) in the area and whether their populations are growing or declining. Data will support indigenous-led conservation via a larger body of habitat restoration led by the First Nations to increase carbon sequestration in the watershed. Importantly, this project will also be used to strengthen indigenous youth education.

Equipment Awarded: Song Meter Minis, Accessories, Kaleidoscope Pro

Automatic Recognition of Bumblebees from Their Buzzes


2022, 4th Quarter

Dr. Jérémy Froidevaux, Ph.D.

University of Stirling, Scotland

Bumblebees are important pollinators of wild, ornamental, and crop plant communities worldwide, and they’re in decline. Traditional methods for monitoring bumblebees (visual counting and sweep-netting) and associated ecosystem services are labor intensive and limit our ability to monitor over large areas and long periods. Our project will assess the potential for artificial intelligence to identify bumblebee species—and their behaviour—based on their buzzes. We will deploy acoustic recorders in Scotland and France to capture buzzing sounds emitted by bumblebees and develop Machine Learning algorithms to understand better the extent of bumblebees’ decline in species distribution and population trends.

Equipment Awarded: Song Meter Minis, Accessories

Increasing the Great Green Macaw Population in the Darien Rainforest


2022, 4th Quarter

Josue Justo

La Asociación Adopta el Bosque Panamá (ADOPTA)

The Critically Endangered Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus) is a magnificent, raucous bird that nests in the tropical forests of Central and South America. Fewer than 1,000 adults remain in the wild due to poaching, habitat loss from cattle ranching and palm oil cultivation, and capture for the domestic pet trade. With this project, we strive to halt the decline of the Great Green Macaw in partnership with an east-Panamanian indigenous community. We will use human observation and passive acoustic monitoring to study the macaw's behaviour and determine the placement of man-made nesting sites to support local breeding populations. If successful, our project could be scaled and implemented to support other critically endangered species.

Equipment Awarded:Song Meter Minis, Song Meter Micros, Kaleidoscope Pro

Comparative Study of Endemic Bats & Bird Populations on the Islands of Idjwi & Tchegera


2022, 4th Quarter

Mwamibantu Muliri, B.Sc.

Université Officielle de Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

In recent decades, the erosion of biodiversity has accelerated. Indeed, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species continues to grow and confirm the decline of wildlife worldwide. The Congolese islands of Idjwi and Tchegera are home to large populations of bats and birds and a stopover point for many migratory birds. Using acoustic and ultrasonic monitoring, we will document the presence and abundance of bat and bird species on these islands for the very first time. Data will enable us to benchmark and understand the effects of climate change on populations over time and encourage public authorities and local decision-makers to confer reserve status on these environments through clear, sustainable, and inclusive proposals.

Equipment Awarded: Song Meter Mini Bats, Accessories, Kaleidoscope Pro, Echo Meter Touch 2 PRO

Tracking the Symphony of Lar Gibbons in Malaysia


2022, 3rd Quarter

Dr. Aini Hasanah Abd Mutalib

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Malaysia

Lar Gibbons sing duets with their partners in the morning to strengthen their bond and mark their territory. With multiple Song Meter Mini recorders and Kaleidoscope Pro analysis software, Dr. Aini Hasanah Abd Mutalib will use Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) protocol to determine the distance and occurrence of these small apes throughout Malaysia’s Kenyir landscape.

Studying the Impacts of Cheshire Beaver Habitat Modification on Bats


2022, 3rd Quarter

Rachel Blount, MRes Student

University of Liverpool, United Kingdom

Beaver reintroduction in the United Kingdom has also introduced habitat modifications as a result of dammed waterways and felled trees. MRes student Rachel Blount will use Kaleidoscope Pro analysis software to determine how different bat species are affected by these environmental changes.

Rodent Eradication for the Preservation of the West Indies Boa


2022, 3rd Quarter

Lindsey Zarecky, VP Conservation and Research

Greensboro Science Centre, United States

While multiple uninhabited islands have been deemed ideal environments for the endangered West Indies Boa to repopulate, colonies of Black Rats in these locations pose a threat to their survival. To ensure rodents don’t recover from eradication procedures, researcher Lindsey Zarecky and her team will use Song Meter Mini Bat detectors to survey the islands for rats’ ultrasonic vocalisations and keep track of their numbers.

Monitoring of Australasian Bitterns in New Zealand


2022, 3rd Quarter

Fathima Zohara Rafi, PhD Student

University of Otago, New Zealand

Australasian bitterns (Botaurus poiciloptilus) are cryptic, shy, and well-camouflaged birds considered a good indicator species for wetland health; however, their population is estimated to number between 250 to 1,000 individuals. Researcher Fathima Zohara Rafi will use Song Meter Mini Bat recorders and Kaleidoscope Pro analysis software to passively monitor this IUCN-listed species and better understand the potential relationship between vocalisation rate and water levels. These data will have applications for other wetland/waterbirds that vocalise.

ECO-OLIVES (Ecological Management of European Olive Agroforestry)


2022, 3rd Quarter

Tara Hanf-Dressler, PhD Student

Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Germany

Balancing human needs for natural resources with biodiversity conservation is one of the greatest challenges of our time. This study will examine the functional diversity and multitrophic interactions of birds, bats, and arthropods in Italian olive agroforestry systems, which are increasingly threatened by monoculture and related diseases. Researcher Tara Hanf-Dressler will use Song Meter Mini Bat recorders to record birds and bats to better understand how their functional diversity depends on local agricultural management and the wider landscape structure—and how these factors can influence associated ecosystem services.

Studying the Reasons Behind Lowland Gorillas’ Chest Beating


2022, 2nd Quarter

Alice Michel, PhD Student

UC Davis

Gorilla chest beating is one of the best-known animal vocalisations, yet we don’t fully understand why they do it. Alice Michel is using Song Meter Mini Recorders to study lowland gorillas in Republic of the Congo to determine whether chest beating acts as a form of long-distance communication between males — and what it could mean.

Finding a Solution to Parakeet-Human Conflict to Protect Birds in Chile


2022, 2nd Quarter

Javier Godoy, PhD Student

Universidad Austral de Chile

As interactions between parakeets and farmers increase, farmers are turning to lethal bird control to prevent damage to their crops. Javier Godoy is several Song Meter Micro Recorders and Kaleidoscope Pro to help determine which crops the parakeets are targeting and how to help farmers mitigate damage without killing the birds.

Tracking Bat Migrations Across Wetlands in Catalonia


2022, 2nd Quarter

Maria Mas Navarro, PhD Student

Natural Sciences Museum of Granollers

Maria Mas Navarro is leading a citizen-science project to track the migratory routes of the Nathusius’ pipistrelle bat across Catalonia using and Echo Meter Touch 2 and Kaleidoscope Pro; where the development of wind farms poses a threat to the health of the species’ population.

Bats in the Bluffs


2022, 1st Quarter

Abby Harveson

Girl Scouts

In Scottsbluff, Nebraska, Girl Scout Ambassador Abby Harveson will use Echo Meter Touch 2 (Android) and Echo Meter Touch 2 PRO (iOS) bat detectors to educate the public about bats, conduct a citizen science project, and promote bat conservation.

Protecting Fruit-Eating Bats in Nepal


2022, 1st Quarter

Aditi Subba

Nature Conservation and Study Centre

Aditi Subba at the Nature Conservation and Study Centre (NCSC) will use Song Meter Mini Bat recorders and Kaleidoscope Pro Analysis Software to promote the conservation of fruit-eating bats among the Chepang community in Nepal.

Monitoring the Recently Discovered, Critically Endangered Groves’ Titi Monkey


2022, 1st Quarter

Dr. Christine Steiner São Bernardo

Instituto Ecótono

Dr. Christine Steiner São Bernardo at Instituto Ecótono (IEco) will use Song Meter Mini acoustic recorders and Kaleidoscope Pro Analysis Software to monitor the Groves’ Titi monkey – a recently discovered, critically endangered species in Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Northern Virginia’s Citizen Science Bat Monitoring Project


2022, 1st Quarter

Dr. Bruce Kimmel

Virginia Master Naturalists

As a member of the Virginia Master Naturalists’ Banshee Reeks Chapter, Dr. Bruce Kimmel will use Kaleidoscope Pro Analysis Software to identify local bat species, further conservation efforts, provide data to the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat), and engage citizen scientists in a bat monitoring project.

Interpreting the Effects of Noise on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services


2022, 1st Quarter

Deyatima Ghosh, Ph. D

ATREE

As Conservation Director of the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, Dr. Vikash Tatayah will use Kaleidoscope Pro Analysis Software to study the Bambou Mountains’ native bird population, which includes several rare species that were reintroduced after vanishing from the region.

Monitoring Bats Along Nepal’s Tamakoshi River Corridor


2022, 1st Quarter

Varsha Rai, Project Officer

Small Mammals Conservation and Research Foundation

Varsha Rai at the Small Mammals Conservation and Research Foundation (SMCRF) in Nepal, will use Song Meter Mini Bat recorders and Echo Meter Touch 2 PRO (iOS) bat detectors to study the diversity, distribution, and ecology of bat species along the Tamakoshi River Corridor.

Establishing Permanent Bat Monitoring Stations in Northern Sweden


2022, 1st Quarter

Heather Wood, PhD Student

Stockholm University


Stockholm University Ph.D. student Heather Wood will use her Song Meter ultrasonic bat recorders along with newly granted SMM-U2 microphones and external power cables to establish three new permanent bat monitoring stations in northern Sweden, which will be used to research long-term trends in bat activity.

In the spirit of reconciliation, Faunatech acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.