Jones said the software, called Sonobat, uses machine learning to automatically detect the type of bat in a recording — a technology that's becoming increasingly popular given the amount of data that can be gleaned from acoustic recordings.
“What was a 40-hour job has been reduced to about four hours,” she said. “Then we can go back and see what the program has identified and verify it. We're still in control.”
Similar technology could work with birds and bats, she said. Jones began using the technology in 2019, and an update this year allowed researchers to also hear “feeding buzzing” in bat recordings.
New Hampshire is home to eight species of bats, all of which are listed as species of conservation concern. Bats are generally nocturnal and can eat up to half their body weight in insects per day. They are also pollinators, and around 500 species of flowers around the world depend on them, according to Bat Conservation International.
According to the New Hampshire Department of Fish and Wildlife, a fungal infection called white-nose syndrome spread through the state starting in 2008, causing a sharp decline in some of the state's bat populations. In 2011, the department reported “catastrophic” bat mortality, with surveys finding just 16 bats in areas that previously had large populations.
Jones said bats have developed some resistance to the fungus, but the decline was so dramatic that populations will likely recover slowly — bats can live up to 20 years and only give birth to one or two bat litters a year.
Bats have long been misunderstood creatures, but she said she is optimistic their reputation is improving.
“I think people are starting to have a greater appreciation for bats,” she said.
This story has been updated to correct the name of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This article first appeared in Globe NH | Morning Report, a free newsletter that focuses on the news you need to know about New Hampshire, with links to great articles from the Boston Globe and other interesting articles from elsewhere. If you'd like to receive it by email Monday through Friday, You can sign up here.
Contact Amanda Gokee at amanda.gokee@globe.com Follow her Amanda Gokey.
