Science is Fun Fridays!

 


One of the ways scientists protect our planet's wild ecosystems is by collecting vast amounts of audio, dense with vocalizations from birds, frogs, insects, whales, fish and more. 

Google has designed an AI model called Perch which is meant to help conservationists analyze bioacoustic data. 

The Australian Acoustic Observatory has been using the program to help identify a number of unique species, and even enabled the discovery of a new population of the Plains Wanderer.


Biologists in Hawaii have used it to monitor and protect populations of honeycreepers, which are facing extinction from the threat of avian malaria, spread by non-native mosquitoes.


In Hawaiian mythology, the 'I'iwi and 'Apanane are symbols of status and spirituality.  The demi-god Maui was the only man who could see their colors, and he enjoyed listening to their songs.  One day a god from another island came to visit and commented on the mysterious harmonies, so Maui lifted the veil and for the first time, the ancient people saw the birds.


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