In 2019 Maine Audubon partnered with the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust and the Seven Lakes Alliance to test the efficacy of using remote acoustic recording devices, or song meters, to detect the presence of breeding birds at two different Demonstration Forests – one in West Bath and another in Vienna. The goal of this project is to evaluate whether we can use song meters to track changes in breeding bird presence in response to different forest management practices promoted by FFMB.

With the help of our partners, the song meters are set out in early May and rotated for two months among forest sites that represent important habitat features for birds and other wildlife – such as snags, small canopy gaps, riparian areas, woody material, mature older trees, and mixed-aged stands. We are interested in the overall species richness associated with habitat features, and also focus attention on 20 priority species of conservation interest.

We are also engaging volunteers in identifying birds on-site through point counts of breeding birds. Our hope is that the results will help us track changes in bird communities and priority species over time in response to forest management, and inform recommendations we provide to private woodland owners, foresters, and loggers through the FFMB program.

Do you “bird by ear” and have some time to listen to recordings from the comfort of your own home? We’re need volunteers to help identify birds that were recorded with song meters last spring and we’re also looking for volunteers to help with forest point counts this year. If you’re interested, please contact us at conserve@maineaudubon.org.