Smart Cities - BirdNET-Pi Project

Overview

• BirdNET-Pi uses a USB microphone connected to a Raspberry Pi to record and identify bird calls.
• The system runs 24/7 and can upload data in real time to https://app.birdweather.com
• Data can also be downloaded via an API so that you can do some additional data processing using Node-RED.

Noisy Minors and Small Birds

• Noisy Minors are native honey eaters.
• They have done very well in urban areas because of the abundance of eucalyptus trees and mown lawns.
• Noisy Minors are also territorial and work cooperatively to drive our smaller birds.
• In many parks small birds are locally extinct and only survive close to waterways.

Small Birds

• Small birds need protection from thick scrubby vegetation so they can build nests and also hide from larger birds.
• Examples of small birds include:
  • White-browed Scrubwrens
  • Brown Thornbills
  • Spotted Pardalotes
  • Willy Wagtails
  • Yellow Robins
  • Golden Whistlers
  • Eastern Spinebills
  • Grey Fantails
• Government agencies, conservation groups and schools are working together to plant more shrubs and bushy vegetation to encourage small birds to come back to our local parks.

• You can read more in this article.

https://www.portplaces.com/noisy-miners-and-the-plight-of-small-birds/

• There is also a documentary you can watch on ABC iView called The Secret Lives of our Urban Birds. Start at the 41 minute mark to see the section on Noisy Minors.

https://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/the-secret-lives-of-our-urban-birds/13734884

Plants for Small Birds

• There are some parks in Melbourne that have high number of small birds and small numbers of Noisy Minors.
• Trin Warren Tam-boore in Royal Park is home to 153 bird species.
• Local waterbodies are surrounded by an impenetrable layer of Tangled lignum (Muehlenbeckia florulenta) which is a place of safety for small birds.
• Jawbone Reserve in Williamstown is also home to many small birds.
• The park is full of Sheoaks and Tangled Lignum.
• Other plants that are recommended are Silver Wattle (Acacia dealbata) and Black Wattle (Acacia mearnsii)

Learning Objectives

• Learn how to install BirdNET-Pi on a Raspberry Pi 4
• Learn how to interpret data from a local installation of BirdNET-Pi
• Learn how to use an API to retrieve data from the BirdNET-Pi installed in Bundoora

Hardware requirements

• Raspberry Pi 4.
• USB Microphone - (e.g. Gyvazla USB Microphone Lavalier Clip-on Omnidirectional Condenser Microphone for Computer)

https://www.amazon.com.au/Microphone-Omnidirectional-Condenser-Interviews-Recording/dp/B072Q2GH99/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=Gyvazla+USB+Microphone&qid=1655199739&sr=8-5

• Heat sink and fan for Raspberry Pi. Optional, but highly recommended because it will keep the processor temperature less than 40degC and prolong the life of your Raspberry Pi.

Imaging Raspberry Pi Operating System

• Install and open the Raspberry Pi imaging software on your computer.
• Connect a 16GB Micro SD card to you computer

• Select Operating System.

• Select the Raspberry Pi OS 64 bit version.
• Select the full 64 bit version, not Lite.

• Select Choose Storage.

• Select Mass Storage Device 16GB.
• You can install the OS on larger memory cards. 16GB is the smallest you can use.

• Click on Write.

• Select Yes - to write the image to the micro SD card.

• The installation takes approximately 15 minutes.
• The writing process is followed by a verification.

Microphone installation for testing

• Plug the microphone into the USB 3.0 port.
• The USB 3.0 plug is yellow.

Microphone final installation

• The microphone needs to be installed on the exterior of the house to receive bird calls.
• Open a window and place the microphone in a sheltered location under and eave so that the microphone doesn't get wet.
• Use sticky tape to attach the microphone to the house.
• Close the window carefully so that the cable connected to the microphone is not damaged.