Latest news with #Haikubox
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
The epic total solar eclipse of 2024 caused some birds to stop singing
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. During the 2024 total solar eclipse that captured the attention of space lovers across North America, something was going on with the birds. Scientists documented an unexpected shift in birds' vocal behaviors during the eclipse using data from 344 community-based monitoring devices known as Haikuboxes. Researchers from Loggerhead Instruments, Inc. and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics managed to use these boxes to glean clear evidence that birds responded audibly to the celestial event. "Anecdotal evidence has long suggested that birds fall silent or exhibit nighttime behaviors during a total solar eclipse," David Mann, lead author of the study and researcher at Loggerhead Instruments, said in a statement. "Our study shows that on average, birds do get quiet during and just after totality, but we also learned that this behavior is strongly linked to the degree of darkness experienced." The study draws on contributions from citizen scientists who host acoustic monitoring devices at sites across the United States. These devices enable researchers to study wildlife behavior over broad geographic areas with the help of artificial intelligence — and without the biases that come with direct human observation. "Our first, quick look at Haikubox data just a few hours after the eclipse showed a large dip in bird vocalizations around the time of peak totality," Mann continued. "When we dove deeper into the data and removed any sites where humans may have influenced the birds' behaviors, we found a much more complicated story." Mann says the team observed a range of bird responses depending on species and location. For instance, Black-capped Chickadees were silent until well after totality at a site in New York, but increased vocalizations during and just after totality at a site in Vermont. American Robins continued singing through totality in Kentucky, while Pine Siskins fell completely silent during the eclipse in Maine. "The variability in bird responses and site differences was fascinating," he said. "We really don't know why birds had such different responses to the total darkness during the eclipse. Despite examining factors like temperature, cloud cover, and wind speed, we found no significant relationship with changes in vocalization rates. This strongly suggests that the sudden total darkness and associated changes in wind and temperature were the primary drivers of the observed behavioral shifts." Related Stories: — What's left of the 2024 solar eclipse lives in our hearts — The 2024 solar eclipse was a teachable moment in more ways than one — I proposed to my fiancée under the diamond ring of the 2024 total solar eclipse This work highlights the important role that community science plays, and the potential to study animals with minimal disruption to their natural behavior. By using technology like Haikuboxes, scientists can gather large amounts of data, gathering insights that would be difficult or impossible to obtain through traditional methods. "Our findings can inform future research on the impacts of light pollution and sudden changes in light levels on bird behavior," stated Mann. "Furthermore, it proves that when we combine the power of community science with clever technology, we can learn amazing things about wildlife without disturbing them, which may inform future continental-scale studies."
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
7 Birding Gadgets Every Bird Enthusiast Needs in 2025
Gone are the days of simple binoculars and field guides—as we soar into 2025, birding technology has transformed this beloved hobby into a high-tech adventure that connects birders with their feathered friends in unprecedented, extra-fun ways. Whether you're a seasoned birding pro with years of experience or just beginning to explore the colorful avian world, having the best birding tools can dramatically enhance your experience and help you identify more species than ever before, in your backyard and beyond. From phone-ready binoculars to weather-resistant smart birdhouses that capture cool moments, this year's must-have birding gadgets combine cutting-edge innovation with practical field use. In this guide, we'll explore seven gadgets that are revolutionizing how we observe, identify, and appreciate birds in their natural habitats—without disturbing their delicate ecosystems. (Of course, don't forget the basics, like feeding them, too!) Once you've gone beyond the best bird food for wild birds (did you check out my not-so-secret recipe?), it's time to up your birding game. You've got trays, platforms, tubes, poles, and socks covered, and now you're ready for the high-tech world. From smart birdhouses and feeders to amazing "monoculars," here's how to get your backyard birds in the palm of your speaking, that is. (Of course, none of these birding gadgets is necessary—simply watching birds out your window is great, too—but this birding gear sure is fun.) The Birdfy Bamboo Birdfeeder is one of my favorites. I love the wood look, and it totally blends into my trees—that does make it initially harder for the birds to find, but once they do, they're there. The feeder is easy to fill, and the app is reasonably easy to use and quick to respond. The cons? It's not built for temperatures below 14°F, so if you live somewhere cold like I do, it's better as a three-season feeder. You'll also want to be careful when cleaning it, as it's so nice—but consider that motivation for cleaning your feeders, which you're supposed to do every two weeks, anyway. You don't have to miss a shot with this monocular telescope—as long as you have your phone with you. It hooks right in and acts as a zoom lens, so all you have to do is snap the phone in, snap the photo, and go. (Okay, you'll also need to adjust the lens to the right focal length, but that's it!) This is about as easy as wildlife photography about as cheap, too. Smart birdfeeders revolutionized the game, and now we have Haikubox, which essentially records your backyard and every bird call in the immediate area—and then identifies which species they came from. You don't have to rely on which birds come to your feeders or make a surprise visit to your stoop, as this thing can hear all the way up into the trees for those bird friends that like to stay sneaky. I'm looking at you, warblers. Toting around a 20-pound camera gets old. For those wildlife shots, this cell phone setup does the trick. It's super lightweight and small and comes with everything a photo-loving birder could possibly need, from a tripod to lenses at a bunch of different lengths. For traveling birders, it's extra convenient and packable, too. I've spent many a year wishing I could pop in on my wrens and chickadees, but I'm always too scared to bother them—now, I don't have to worry about that. These stylish things are great for birders and kids, too, as everyone will get close to the birds' process of life. How do they build a nest? How do they lay eggs? How do the eggs hatch? How do the birdies eat? How do they fledge? You'll get to see it all. These tiny, super-fast creatures are the ultimate birding delight in a yard, if you ask me, and now you won't miss a moment of their super-fast flybys. Two notes: 1) You'll have to keep this one extra clean to prevent bugs. 2) Don't buy premade hummingbird nectar! 1 part sugar to 4 parts water is all you need (just make sure the sugar is fully dissolved). And no food coloring, friends, as that's bad for our humming friends. Keep this one clean, too, and make sure fecal matter doesn't build up in the water; birds will use it to drink as much as they'll use it for a tub. Tip: Try to have your birdbaths at different heights to accommodate their tastes, and see how different birds develop favorites. You can put a few decorative rocks in the center for height and places to stand as well. By next year, they'll probably invent magnetic bird lasers to attract birds to your yard. In the meantime, we'll be awed by these smart birding gadgets. For more birding gifts (ones that you could always keep for yourself!), check out the best gifts for bird lovers, too. Bird on!
