The bush now has ears thanks to acoustic recorders being deployed around the Gwydir Valley.
Scientists from the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) and Queensland University of Technology (QUT) are currently working with nine farm managers across 11 properties in the region. Led by bat biologist and ecologist Professor Stuart Parsons of UniSC, they are working to determine the diversity and activity of birds and bats that are known to play a role in natural pest management in cotton. It's part of a CRDC-supported project to quantify the importance of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies and habitat connectivity in cotton landscapes.
UniSC Research Assistant Maggie Campbell-Jones joined Stuart on the trip to Moree.
"Working with the cotton growers has been a great experience so far, all of the growers have been incredibly knowledgeable and welcoming," Maggie said.
"We have found some great spots on the farms thanks to their advice and property tours."
The team put out 19 small sensors and are already looking forward coming back to install larger and more technical sensors, developed with support from CRDC and growers, that use AI to identify bat and bird species in real time. This cutting-edge acoustic monitoring gives researchers and growers the ability to monitor birds and bats to understand how to increase their presence on farms, and so improve biodiversity and enhance natural capital.
"We have only just installed our first small sensors and are excited to get data back in the coming months," Stuart said.
"We will be collecting recordings from our smaller sensors each month and using AI to help us identify any bat or bird calls made in each location.
"We can use these recordings to identify which areas may have more beneficial insect-eating species and if there's any key factors attracting them to those sites."
This project forms part of CRDC's Natural Capital portfolio, under the Planet pillar of the CRDC Strategic Plan Clever Cotton. CRDC's goal is to help growers implement resilient natural capital practices that support productivity, help maintain biodiverse ecosystems, strengthen capacity for adaption to climate change, and progressively improve regional water, land and soil quality.
This article originally appeared in the Summer 2024-25 edition of CRDC's Spotlight magazine. Subscribe here.
