Bioacoustics

Listening to Nature’s Hidden Conversations

Every landscape is alive with sound —from the chorus of birds at dawn to the ultrasonic clicks of bats and the low hum of insects. Bioacoustics is the science of recording and analysing those sounds to monitor wildlife in a way that’s non-invasive, highly efficient, and often beautifully revealing.

What is bioacoustics?

Bioacoustics uses specialised equipment to detect, record, and analyse sounds produced by animals. This includes audible calls, ultrasonic echolocation (as with bats), and even low-frequency vocalisations. By interpreting these soundscapes, it becomes possible to detect species presence, activity patterns, and habitat use —all without having to see the animals themselves.

Why it’s useful

Typical applications include

Tools of the trade

Autonomous recording units (ARUs), full-spectrum bat detectors, and specialised audio analysis software allow for extended, remote, and repeatable surveys. These tools can monitor over days or weeks —capturing data well beyond what a human observer could achieve in person.

Working in harmony with other methods

Bioacoustics is often used alongside techniques like eDNA, camera traps, and habitat surveys to create a fuller picture of site ecology. It adds another dimension —one that’s rich in detail and often overlooked.

Who can benefit?