The California Central Valley and its orchards are home to hundreds of bird species and serve as an essential stopover along the Pacific Flyway, a major migratory route for birds that extends from Alaska to South America. However, while studies on bird diversity in almond orchards have been conducted in other regions, there is a lack of data on the Central Valley. To fill this knowledge gap, FISHBIO is utilizing the emerging technology of Autonomous Recording Units (ARUs) to gather acoustic data on bird vocalizations over a three-year period, assessing the seasonal biodiversity of birds in California Central Valley almond orchards.
ARUs record audio at user-defined times, sensitivity, and frequencies. The audio recordings are then digitized and processed using computer-aided signal recognition systems to identify the recorded bird song to species. When used appropriately, ARUs can provide an efficient, standardized, and unbiased data-collection procedure at a lower cost than traditional site visits by skilled observers. In FISHBIO’s first year of this study, an experienced bird biologist also conducted in-person point-count bird surveys in conjunction with ARU deployment to validate the efficiency and accuracy of the ARUs.
Songbirds are essential in orchards because they can act as natural pest control and pollinators. This project will provide valuable baseline data on both migratory and non-migratory bird species in California Central Valley orchards.
Are you an Almond grower who is interested in participating in this study? If yes, please contact us at info@fishbio.com
Specific areas where study sites are currently needed (as of 2025) include the northern Central Valley (Glenn and Colusa Counties) and the southern Central Valley (Fresno, Kings, and Tulare Counties).