OPB’s First Look: AI boosts wildlife monitoring
OPB’s First Look: AI boosts wildlife monitoring
https://www.opb.org/article/2026/06/13/ai-boosts-wildlife-monitoring-opb-first-look/
Publish Date: 2026-06-13 12:33:00
Source Domain: www.opb.org
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Good morning, Northwest.
You may use artificial intelligence in your daily life, but how does using it to count wildlife sound? OPB’s Kristian Foden-Vencil dives deep into an Oregon Department of Forestry project that uses AI to analyze sounds collected in the wild to count birds and other animals.
And if you missed the fourth annual Invitational Chainsaw Competition in Sandy, Oregon, last weekend, we’ve got you covered. OPB’s Joni Auden Land has the story.
Here’s your First Look at Saturday’s news.
— Winston Szeto
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An autonomous recording unit deployed in the Tillamook State Forest. Oregon, 2026
Vanessa Petro
Biologists use cutting edge tech to help save Oregon’s threatened species
Oregon’s forests are home to a wide variety of wildlife, including threatened species like the northern spotted owl and the marbled murrelet. The Oregon Department of Forestry needs to count such species to help protect them and enhance their habitats.
After decades of biologists going out into the woods and physically counting animals, the agency is now turning to sound recorders and AI because they’re cheaper and can gather a lot more information.
“Autonomous recording units with rechargeable batteries, memory cards, and the software costs are coming in the $600-$700 range per device,” said Oregon Department of Forestry biologist Corey Grinnell.
The agency is currently spending millions to send biologists into the forests to conduct callback surveys, where they mimic a bird call and count responses.(Kristian Foden-Vencil)
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Current Portland Cascade outfielder Korbe Otis (center) with her University of Florida coach (left) and Athletes Unlimited Softball League commissioner Kim Ng on April 19, 2025. Otis was drafted to the Athletes Unlimited Softball League following the tame at Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium in Gainesville, FL.
Nicole Scharff /…
