Apple orchards: a natural laboratory to understand birds
Bird populations in Europe have been declining for several decades. Intensive agriculture is one of the main causes of this concerning trend. To reverse it, it is crucial to better understand how different agricultural practices affect birds.
This project uses an innovative approach to study birds in apple orchards. Rather than counting birds visually, acoustic recorders are installed to capture their songs continuously. Computer algorithms then automatically analyze these recordings to identify the species present. This method allows for collecting far more data than traditional surveys, without disturbing the birds.
The objective
We focus on three aspects of bird life in orchards:
- Changes in bird communities: Which species use the orchards? Do their populations increase or decrease depending on farmers’ practices?
- Migratory birds: Can orchards serve as a refuge for species passing through our regions during migration?
- Daily rhythms: At what time do birds sing in the morning? Does this behavior change depending on how the orchard is managed?
By better understanding these links between agriculture and biodiversity, we can propose farming practices that reconcile fruit production with nature conservation.
