Status: Completed

Start date: 1 January 2020

Completion date: 30 November 2022

Project code: P01-T-002

Species/Threats: Starlings

Download project report (PDF, 6.33 MB)

Summary

Passive acoustic surveillance (PAS) technology was used in this project to create, trial and demonstrate the benefits of detecting pest or threatened species acoustically (thus helping prevent invasive species establishing).
The project team deployed multiple units in key locations, building on an automated remote detection system developed for starlings and Asian black-spined toad.

Key achievements

Outputs

  • Installed and operation of two permanent passive acoustic surveillance towers for starling surveillance in WA.
  • Automated detection algorithm.
  • Vocalisation libraries for pest species for training of detection algorithm.

Outcomes

  • New tools and systems for detection of Australia’s high priority pests.
  • Strengthened approaches to invasive species detection.

Impact

  • Increased effectiveness of monitoring and surveillance of invasive starlings in Western Australia.
  • Improved efficiency of resource allocation for invasive starling responses in Western Australia.
  • Reduced total impact costs of new starling incursions through improved detection.
  • Contribution to faster and more accurate detection of other invasive species through the use of passive acoustic surveillance (PAS).
  • Helped avoid negative environmental outcomes from future invasive species
    incursions by improving detection that allows for more effective responses
    Increased scientific knowledge and research capacity has been developed for PAS technology.

Project team

Dr Susan Campbell

Project Lead | DPIRD WA

Dr Kyle Armstrong

David Barnard

Specialised Zoological

Project partners

Project partners included Specialised Zoological. The project received funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).

Project updates

February 2021

A working prototype device is collecting data from Adelaide. A second different approach to audio processing is also being developed. Both approaches are constantly being refined and outputs from both methods are being compared to determine the most precise, accurate and energy efficient option.

To maximise the surveillance area, and reduce slow processing, storage space and power consumption of the device, a single compression microphone is being investigated over a stereo recording channel. Possibilities to ensure the devices can transfer data from remote field locations is also being researched.

Potential sources of some common false positives from the project area have been identified (e.g. Australian Golden Whistler, Swamp Harrier, New Holland Honey-eater, Yellow throated miner) the algorithm is being trained to avoid returning these species as false detections.