Field instrumentation for vocalizing avian survey

Abstract

We present automated instruments to facilitate the monitoring of vocalizing species in their environment with minimal disruption. These devices offer recording and acoustic localization of bird calls and relay data via the GSM cellular network to remote servers. Further, the system may be augmented with amplifiers and speakers in order to interact dynamically with the environment as to elicit vocalized responses, for example. The complete system is designed to meet the needs the Maine Audubon Society's annual owl survey. We further propose a less computationally intensive alternative to the standard time delay of arrival algorithm and extend it to arrays of arbitrarily many microphones.