Motus Audio Day 33: Windsor, ON. Look who's back on campus! After 33 days of cross-Canada adventure, Natalie & Madison rolled onto campus in their Chrysler Pacifica. They'll resupply, visit friends and family, then continue east to launch recorders. @birdscanada.bsky.social @ibiouwindsor.bsky.social

Motus Audio Day 32: Huron County, ON We have five Motus Audio recorders sampling skies over Huron County. Natalie and Madison launched recorders with Mennill Lab alum Justin, and two more with new friend Cassie. Thank you to our Motus Audio hosts! @birdscanada.bsky.social @ibiouwindsor.bsky.social

Early this morning I was honoured to join seven different local CBC radio stations to chat about my new research on noise pollution and urban bird song. Thank you, CBC Ontario, Windsor, Thunder Bay, Kitchener, London, Sudbury, & Ottawa! @cbcradiocanada.bsky.social @ibiouwindsor.bsky.social

Motus Audio Day 31: Bruce Peninsula, ON. Birding in the Bruce! Although our Motus Audio host for today fell through, Natalie and Madison made the most of it, watching warblers arrive north of Owen Sound: 12 warbler species in one hike. @birdscanada.bsky.social @ibiouwindsor.bsky.social

I had a great two-day trip to Toronto for the annual meeting of the Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution conference. It was a chance to share research with old and new friends. Thank you to @csee-scee.bsky.social for organizing a really stimulating meeting.

At the Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution meeting in Toronto, so many great talks using Song Meters to quantify avian biodiversity in urban and rural environments across Canada. @csee-scee.bsky.social @wildlifeacoustics.com

The Global Urban Bird Survey! Live from the Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution meeting at University of Toronto, my collaborator Paul Preston presented a great talk about our collaborative Global Urban Bird Survey. An outstanding talk Paul! @csee-scee.bsky.social @csee-sceemtgs.bsky.social

Motus Audio Day 30: Tobermory, ON. The Chi-Cheemaun! ⛴️ After crossing from northern to southern Ontario, Natalie and Madison set up a battery-powered Motus Audio recorder at the Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory. Thank you to Stéphane and the BPBO! 🇨🇦 @birdscanada.bsky.social @ibiouwindsor.bsky.social

Motus Audio Day 29: Desbarats, ON. As our cross-Canada Motus Audio network grows, Natalie and Madison set up a bioacoustic recorder at the Central Algoma Land Trust. Thank you to Corrine and all of our hosts, partners, and collaborators. @birdscanada.bsky.social @ibiouwindsor.bsky.social

Motus Audio Day 28: Sault Ste. Marie, ON. With our friend and long-term flight call collaborator, Dr. Jennifer Foote of Algoma University, Natalie and Madison set up a Motus Audio in the Soo. Thanks Jenn! Nearby: sharing the road with a black bear! @ibiouwindsor.bsky.social @birdscanada.bsky.social

Motus Audio Day 27 BONUS: Pelee Island, ON. Thank you to our new collaborator: Pelee Island Bird Observatory (PIBO)! We launched one more Motus Audio recorder during PIBO’s SpringSong festival. An amazing opportunity to build connections among birders and ornithologists. @birdscanada.bsky.social

Motus Audio Day 27: Batchawana Bay, ON. Our newest Motus Audio recorder is now sampling the skies over Batchawana Bay. Natalie and Madison stopped to honk at the Giant Goose in Wawa as they crossed Superior's north shore. @birdscanada.bsky.social @ibiouwindsor.bsky.social

Motus Audio Day 26: Pelee Island, ON. This weekend is the Pelee Island Bird Observatory’s SpringSong Festival! I set up four Motus Audio recorders on Pelee Island (while Madison and Natalie drive across Ontario). Thanks to our hosts & supporters! @birdscanada.bsky.social @ibiouwindsor.bsky.social

Motus Audio Day 25: Thunder Bay, ON. On the shore of Lake Superior, Madison and Natalie launched three new Motus Audio recorders in Thunder Bay, including McKellar Island Bird Observatory. Our cross-Canada bioacoustic network continues to grow. @ibiouwindsor.bsky.social @birdscanada.bsky.social

Motus Audio Day 24: Point Pelee, ON. On the Lake Erie shore, on a major migration route, Cam launched 4 new Motus Audio units: 2 in Point Pelee National Park, 1 at Cedar Creek, 1 at Holiday Beach. Meanwhile, Natalie and Madison continue their trek across northern Ontario. @birdscanada.bsky.social

The story of the extraordinary life and hideous death of the Great Auk, presented by Tim Birkhead last night at Ojibway Nature Centre. It was an amazing kick-off to the Springsong Festival. Thank you for coming so far to share your research Tim! @pitcherlab.bsky.social @bobmontgomerie.bsky.social

Motus Audio Day 23: Experimental Lakes, ON. Madison and Natalie reached the Centre of Canada! They then entered Ontario and set up a Motus Audio recorder at the IISD Experimental Lakes Area. Thanks to our Motus Audio hosts and supporters. @birdscanada.bsky.social @ibiouwindsor.bsky.social

Motus Audio Day 22: Winnipeg, MB. Two new Motus Audio recorders are now recording the migratory birds in chilly Manitoba: one in Winnipeg and one in St. Malo. Great field work Madison and Natalie... Stay warm! @birdscanada.bsky.social @ibiouwindsor.bsky.social

Our NEW PAPER is out: "Traffic Reduction during COVID-19 Lockdowns Benefited Species Already Tolerant of Noise Pollution: An Acoustic Analysis." Hot off the press in American Naturalist: doi.org/10.1086/740812 We found something surprising about traffic and birdsong... 🧵1

Sunshine or fog, you'll find Sarah, Maia, and Jeff recording Savannah Sparrows on Kent Island in the Bay of Fundy. This spring we're using field-portable sound level meters to study vocal amplitude in Savannah Sparrow song. @sdobney.bsky.social @biolumijeffence.bsky.social @ibiouwindsor.bsky.social

Wood Thrush, Barn Swallow, Warbling Vireo… Early this morning we started our 2026 study of birds in Ojibway Prairie Complex. We’re using song meters to study avian biodiversity in this amazing urban park. This research is led by Michelle Bondy. @ibiouwindsor.bsky.social @wildlifeacoustics.com

Motus Audio Day 21: Oak Hammock Marsh, MB. Natalie and Madison launched a Motus Audio recorder on the Motus tower at Oak Hammock Marsh north of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Our cross-Canada microphone array reaches a new province! @birdscanada.bsky.social @ibiouwindsor.bsky.social

Motus Audio Day 20: Weyburn, SK. A new Motus Audio recorder is now sampling the night skies above the Weyburn Wildlife Federation. Then Natalie and Madison crossed into Manitoba. Three provinces complete in our cross-Canada trip: BC, AB, SK! 👍🎤🇨🇦 @birdscanada.bsky.social @ibiouwindsor.bsky.social

Motus Audio Day 19: Regina, SK. Madison and Natalie launched 2 new Motus Audio recorders in our cross-Canada network: one at Last Mountain Bird Observatory and one in Regina. Then to see the world's largest T Rex at Royal Saskatchewan Museum. @birdscanada.bsky.social @ibiouwindsor.bsky.social 🧵1/2

Canada still doesn’t have an official national bird. Bill S-221, now before the Senate, would recognize the Canada Jay. Found in every province and territory, resident through northern winters, food-storing, early-nesting, and wonderfully Canadian. www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en... 📷 Brett Forsyth

Motus Audio Day 18 BONUS: Kent Island, NB. Our Kent Island team launched a Motus Audio recorder at Bowdoin Scientific Station in the Bay of Fundy. It promptly recorded a Savannah Sparrow and a Leach's Storm-Petrel. @birdscanada.bsky.social @sdobney.bsky.social @jeff-dutter.bsky.social

Motus Audio Day 18: Prince Albert, SK. After launching a recorder with a collaborator in Saskatoon, Natalie & Madison mounted recorder #25 on a Motus tower at Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Prince Albert. Thanks to their friendly & enthusiastic staff! 👍 @birdscanada.bsky.social @ibiouwindsor.bsky.social

Birthday gift to myself: The Story of Birds by @stevebrusatte.bsky.social .

"À Paris, les oiseaux continuent de chanter plus aigu à cause du bruit, malgré la lutte contre la pollution sonore." 🐦🇫🇷 Mon article sur les chants d'oiseaux et la pollution sonore, publié dans The Conversation, est maintenant disponible en français: doi.org/10.64628/AAK...

Motus Audio Day 17: Saskatoon, SK. Telemetry and bioacoustics working together to study bird migration! At Beaver Creek Conservation Area in the Meewasin Valley, Madison & Natalie launched our 23rd Motus Audio recorder on a Motus radio tower. 📡🎤🕊️👍 @birdscanada.bsky.social @ibiouwindsor.bsky.social

Congratulations to Nelsy who hosted a great PhD Committee Meeting today, updating her supervisory team on her progress studying vocal mimicry in the Gray Seedeater. Outstanding research @nelsyninor.bsky.social!

Motus Audio Day 16: Medicine Hat, AB. Two provinces complete! In Medicine Hat, Natalie and Madison delivered the 22nd recorder in our cross-Canada microphone array. Next stop: Saskatchewan! Learn more about our project: motus-audio.web.app @birdscanada.bsky.social @ibiouwindsor.bsky.social

Motus Audio Day 15: Lethbridge, AB. Madison and Natalie launched the next recorders in our cross-Canada migration monitoring network. Thanks to Gillian and the amazing Laird family for helping us launch two Lethbridge recorders. @birdscanada.bsky.social @ibiouwindsor.bsky.social

The launch of our first Song Meter of the 2026 field season! For the next 4 months we'll record Savannah Sparrows and Leach's Storm-Petrels in our collaborative studies of the birds on Kent Island. 🎤🐦‍⬛👍 @wildlifeacoustics.com @ingridpollet.bsky.social @sdobney.bsky.social @jeff-dutter.bsky.social

Arriving this morning at the Bowdoin Scientific Station on Kent Island, New Brunswick, it is our 14th year studying wild Savannah Sparrows in the Bay of Fundy. Sarah, Maia, & Jeff will be studying sparrow song all spring. 📷: S. Dobney @sdobney.bsky.social @jeff-dutter.bsky.social

Motus Audio Day 14: Calgary, AB. Two weeks into our expedition to launch 100 Motus Audio recorders across Canada, Natalie and Madison have reached Calgary Alberta. They deployed recorders in Calgary, Bragg Creek, and Cochrane. It's chilly in Alberta! ❄️🎤🐦🇨🇦 @birdscanada.bsky.social

Motus Audio Day 13: Banff, AB. Reaching the high point of our cross-Canada expedition to launch Motus Audio recorders, Natalie and Madison ascended to 2,281 m above sea level in Banff. It was a well-deserved day of sightseeing for these hard-working ornithology grad students.

Motus Audio Day 12: Lake Louise, AB. Having launched 16 Motus Audio recorders across BC, our field team — the amazing grad students Natalie and Madison — are entering Alberta, enjoying the natural beauty of Canada as they launch a continent-wide microphone array for studying bird migration.

Motus Audio Day 11: Revelstoke BC. Amidst the bears and mountains, Madison & Natalie set up our latest Motus Audio recorder in Revelstoke BC, completing the first province of our cross-Canada research expedition. Go team! #bioacoustics #ornithology @ibiouwindsor.bsky.social @birdscanada.bsky.social

While Natalie and Madison launch Motus Audio recorders across Canada, we have been assembling more recorders in the lab. Today, undergraduate researcher Luca assembled the 100th Motus Audio recorder. Thanks Luca! @ibiouwindsor.bsky.social @birdscanada.bsky.social

Motus Audio Day 10: Salmon Arm BC. We're more than halfway across our first province, setting up Motus Audio recorders to study bird migration. Madison and Natalie set up this recorder in Salmon Arm, on the shores of Shuswap Lake. #bioacoustics @ibiouwindsor.bsky.social @birdscanada.bsky.social

Motus Audio Day 9: Kamloops BC. Oops, we're in Kamloops! Madison and Natalie deployed a Motus Audio recorder near the banks of the Thompson Rivers, as we continue to launch our cross-Canada migration monitoring network. @ibiouwindsor.bsky.social @birdscanada.bsky.social

In a springtime expedition to Paris, I studied noise pollution and the songs of Great Tits. You can read about the research in a new article in The Conversation: doi.org/10.64628/AAM... And the full peer-reviewed study in Ornithological Applications: doi.org/10.1093/orni... @amornith.bsky.social

Motus Audio Day 8: Vaseux Lake BC. We launched a recorder at Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory, a Canadian Migration Monitoring Network site. This is an offline Motus Audio recorder; we will upload data at the end of the season. Thanks to our host, bander Jason Jones, my old friend from grad school.

"Human activity fills the world with noise. The sounds of cars, airplanes, boats and industrial activities produce a steady roar that impacts wild animals." I've written an article for The Conversation about noise pollution and bird song. 🚘🎶🐦 Read it here: theconversation.com/paris-has-su...

Motus Audio Day 7: Hope BC. With our trusty Chrysler Pacifica — rented in honour of our home town of Windsor, Ontario — Natalie and Madison have made it to Hope, BC, heading into the mountains to launch our cross-Canada bioacoustic migration monitoring network. @birdscanada.bsky.social

We send our biggest 👍👍👍 thank-you 👍👍👍 to my sister and her family! They have served as our "West Coast Depot" for the launch of the Motus Audio project this spring. Thank you!

Motus Audio Day 6: Vancouver BC. A great moment when Madison & Natalie were joined by Dr. David Bradley, an alum of our lab, and now Conservation Scientist & Director of Birds Canada for British Columbia @birdscanada.bsky.social. Back on mainland, we launched 3 units in the Vancouver area.

Motus Audio Day 5: Victoria BC. Having launched six Motus Audio recorders 🎤🕊️ on Vancouver Island — the most westerly of our cross-Canada recorders — Madison and Natalie head back to mainland. Friends made along the way include a feline mariner 🐈🚣‍♂️ and a starfish-munching Glaucous-winged Gull ⭐🐟.

Motus Audio Day 4: Victoria BC To the delight of a curious harbor seal, Natalie and Madison launched two new Motus Audio recorders on southern Vancouver Island. From Nanaimo to Victoria, our Canada-wide microphone network continues to grow. #bioacoustics #ornithology @ibiouwindsor.bsky.social