Continental-scale behavioral response of birds to a total solar eclipse

Area of Science:

• Ornithology
• Bioacoustics
• Animal Behavior

Background:

• Anecdotal evidence suggests birds cease singing and roost during solar eclipses.
• Previous research methods, like human observation and limited acoustical studies, have limitations including small sample sizes and observer bias.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate bird vocalization changes during the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse.
• To assess the effectiveness of a community science bioacoustics network for studying wildlife responses to large-scale events.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a community science network of bioacoustics devices across North America.
• Employed machine learning algorithms to analyze bird vocalizations.
• Monitored sites experiencing over 99% solar obscuration during the total solar eclipse.

Main Results:

• Observed a significant decrease in bird vocalization across North America during the total solar eclipse.
• Found variability in site-specific bird vocalization responses, even after controlling for human presence.
• Demonstrated the capability of automated passive acoustics for continental-scale event monitoring.

Conclusions:

• Automated bioacoustics networks can effectively detect changes in bird behavior during celestial events.
• This technology offers a scalable solution for studying wildlife impacts from widespread phenomena like wildfires and extreme weather.