What can birds tell us about the health of our local environment? At the New Earth Project in Silver City, a program of the Upper Gila Watershed Alliance, a permanent BirdNET listening station is helping answer that question. Installed at the end of January 2026 by Aldo student Wyatt Meador, the station uses machine learning to identify birds by their calls and songs. Between late January and the end of September, it has detected 107 bird species—revealing an impressive diversity of birdlife in and around the project site along San Vicente.
Unlike traditional bird surveys, which depend on observers being outdoors at a particular time, a permanent listening station can monitor bird sounds 24/7 over time. It can detect birds that might otherwise go unnoticed and help reveal seasonal changes in bird activity. As monitoring continues, the recordings may provide valuable information about which species use the area throughout the year and how bird activity changes with the seasons.
According to founders Carol Ann and Mike Fugagi, the New Earth Project takes a whole-system approach to developing healthy ecosystems. Its work connects environmental stewardship, soil health, food waste reduction, and community education, recognizing the the health of our environment depends on the relationships among many living things. The BirdNET station adds another way to understand these connections by monitoring the birds sharing this landscape.
While BirdNET identifications sometimes need verification, the technology provides a useful starting point for learning about local birdlife and asking new questions about the environment and the impact of habitat restoration. The recording of over 100 bird species in just eight months is a reminder of the remarkable biodiversity right here in our community.
Visit the New Earth Project BirdNet site here.
