DESC0024976

360 surviving individuals. They are found in areas desirable for windfarms which are an important renewable energy source, so it is cri􀆟cal to avoid harming NARW during windfarm construc􀆟on and opera􀆟on. There also is concern that offshore windfarms could be sited in the path of and poten􀆟ally harm migra􀆟ng birds and bats. Passive acous􀆟c monitoring (PAM) provides a way to detect and localize animals using their unique vocaliza􀆟ons to minimize any poten􀆟al harm resul􀆟ng from windfarm construc􀆟on or opera􀆟on. Automa􀆟c PAM with high precision and recall allows the iden􀆟fica􀆟on of individual species of whales, birds, and bats present near windfarms, thus complemen􀆟ng exis􀆟ng technologies which lack this capability. This project will develop Narwhal, a botom- sta􀆟oning profiling buoy that listens con􀆟nuously for whales, and then rises to the surface to transmit whale detec􀆟on data; and Skylark, a skyward-aimed parabolic dish to detect and iden􀆟fy bird and bat migra􀆟on calls. Working prototypes will require development of neural networks to detect and iden􀆟fy all incoming whale vocaliza􀆟ons, plus bird and bat migra􀆟on calls. With the successful development of this system, windfarm developers and other stakeholders will have access to a dashboard showing the real-􀆟me loca􀆟ons of NARW so they can adjust their ac􀆟vi􀆟es to avoid their harm. Addi􀆟onally, they will know when migra􀆟ng birds are nearby, including any important or endangered species. Researchers will be able to access the data for study and to create policy or best prac􀆟ces to protect these animals. The commercializa􀆟on poten􀆟al of this work is high since the buoys could be used to monitor highly trafficked areas where there also is a risk of NARW collision.