Using Autonomous Recording Units to Survey Coastal Birds
PROJECT LEADS: EMRWB, Michel Robert (Canadian Wildlife Service), Ted Cheskey (Nature Canada), Natasha Louttit (Cree Trappers Association-Eeyou Marine Region)
DURATION: 2021-2023
AMOUNT AWARDED: In-kind Contribution
In 2021, the Eeyou Marine Region Wildlife Board partnered with Canadian Wildlife Service, and the Cree Trappers Association to create a pilot project to survey coastal birds using Autonomous Recording Units (ARUs). ARUs are devices that can be deployed for an extended period of time in remote areas to record bird song, these recording are used to determine the type of birds that use different areas along the coast.
During the summer of 2021, we hired two land users to deploy 10 ARUs along the coast of Wemindji to test the feasibility of using the recording devices to monitor birds in Eeyou Istchee.
The objectives of this project are:
(1) To gain more knowledge on bird species and bird species at risk in the Eeyou Marine Region.
(2) To contribute much needed information to the Quebec Breeding Bird Atlas and to the Cree Nation Governments protected areas planning.
PROGRESS:
10 ARU’s were deployed from May-September 2021, the units were programmed to record at sunrise and sunset during different intervals. The pilot project was successful and the units recorded a lot of information, suggesting that ARUs are feasible to use in future projects in the region!
Overall, 153 recordings were randomly selected for analysis by CWS-Quebec birders and a total of 83 different bird species were recorded. Of the species identified, 5 are federally listed as a species at risk, providing valuable information about critical habitat for the recovery of these species.
To read more about the species that were recorded and listen to their songs, check out our preliminary report here.
In May of 2022 & 2023, additional units were deployed in new locations in all five of the EMR commnities. We are looking forward to seeing what new species these units record!
