General News
2 September, 2025
AI to play a key role in bird identification
PROJECT Platypus is inviting locals to learn more about their local birdlife this Sunday with a workshop showcasing the use of PUC (Portable Universe Codec), an AI-powered bioacoustics platform.
The workshop will demonstrate how BirdPUC devices can identify bird species and how simple it is to install one at home.
Participants will also see the installation of a fully off-grid BirdPUC station in the WAMA Foundation native gardens and hear from locals who have already been using the devices on their own properties.
Landcare Facilitator Elia Pirtle said the technology opens up conservation science to everyone.
“We are running a demonstration of a pretty cool little device that you can already buy. This little device is called a BirdPUC and it’s really cool because it’s one of the first purpose-built little technologies for conservation that’s really just made for anybody even if they don’t have a lot of bird skills,” she said.
Elia explained that the PUC is simple to operate and effective.
“When it hears bird calls, it records them and identifies them for you. It’s using an AI model that was developed by Cornell University. You have this constant live feed of birds that are calling at your house or wherever you’ve set the device up. For anyone who’s just into birds it’s a pretty fun device,” she said.
The workshop also connects to the broader Biolinks Project, which is working to make local revegetation efforts more ecologically viable aiming connect habitats from the Grampians through to the Pyrenees, with the BirdPUC devices playing a central role in future planning.
The Bird Monitoring Workshop will run from 11:00-2:30pm on Sunday, 31 August 2025 at the WAMA Foundation in Halls Gap.
The event is free, with lunch and gallery access included. Bookings can be made at www.jallukar-landcare-bird-monitoring-workshop.raiselysite.com