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Songbird Study Update

Song birds are a vital part of New Brunswick's wildlife, so J.D. Irving, Limited has partnered with Natural Resources Canada, Carleton University and Environment and Climate Change Canada in a 5-year songbird habitat research project. 

The project involves collecting data with acoustic recording devices.  Three years of monitoring in Black Brook woodlands in Northern New Brunswick, with over 100 auto-acoustic monitoring devices has collected over 500 hours of songbird recordings.  Researchers listen to the recordings to know what species of bird and their density in the forest with GPS marked locations. JDI's enhanced mapping system gives researchers the ability to know the forest landscapes and learn the use of forest type by species. End results give researchers the ability to know how many species there are and where there are available habitats for specific species. In addition to what habitats are preferred by each species.

Initial results indicate there are 95 species of songbirds identified.  Research this year is focusing on comparing results across Black Brook with less intensively managed forest in Northern New Brunswick and Maine. 

"If you're doing things right, if you're maintaining the long-term sustainability of the forest then you're going to be providing habitat for forest birds," Lisa Venier, Research Scientist at Natural Resources Canada.

Learn more about Woodlands research here.

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