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Trail Cams & Bird Monitors

Trail Cams & Bird Monitors

Biodiversity monitoring program

Diversity of forests support diversity of wildlife

Wildlife tells you a lot about how a forest's doing. What shows up, where it settles, how it moves—those patterns matter. 
 
To lead this understanding, Irving Woodlands has designed and built one of the most comprehensive biodiversity monitoring programs from the ground up. 
 
We've placed over 500 cameras and sound recorders across different parts of the forest—younger stands, older stands, everything in between—tracking birds and mammals as seasons change and years pass. Software helps sort through what we're seeing and hearing. 
 
Its pioneering work that gives us insights at a scale not previously available.  Data we can share with research partners, universities, government agencies, and conservation groups. 
 
The recordings you'll see here come mostly from this program. Some are from our foresters. Together, they offer a rare look at everyday life in the forest—familiar species and elusive ones—helping us understand how a mix of forest conditions supports a mix of wildlife. 
 
It's long-term care you can see, measure, and learn from. 

Trail Cams

Biodiversity monitoring program 

a window into the forest. 

Over 280 trail cameras are stationed across the forest, capturing deer, moose, lynx, marten, and more than a dozen other species as they pass through. The footage offers a window into places few people reach, showing us who lives here and how different forest conditions support them season to season. 

Caught on Camera: Signs of a Healthy Forest

#WildlifeWednesday. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for weekly wildlife videos and features. 

A rare daytime sighting

A rare daytime sighting

It's not often you get to watch a fisher walk by, let alone in the daylight! The elusive fisher is most active at night, which makes this trail cam moment extra special.

Northern ME / October 12 / 3:29 pm / 39 °F

Mother-daughter duo on the move

Mother-daughter duo on the move

Our trail camera caught this moose cow taking her calf for a walk through the woods. After a couple years of learning from Mom, this calf will head out on her own!

Northern ME / September 24 / 9:32 am / 4 °F

Something in the air

Something in the air

This coyote was taking a stroll past our trail cam when it caught a whiff of something yummy. Coyotes can detect smells up to 1.5 kilometers away.

Northern ME / September 9 / 11:18 am / 50 °F

Can you spot the moose calf?

Can you spot the moose calf?

A rare view of a cow and her calf bedding down for a sleep in the middle of the night. Look closely to see the calf.​

Southern NB / July 30 / 3:03 am / 15°C​

So close you can count the whiskers

So close you can count the whiskers

Lead by a strong sense of smell, this moose stopped by to check out one of our biodiversity cameras in Southern New Brunswick.

Southern NB / July 26 / 7:23 am / 9 °C​

Out for a nighttime stroll

Out for a nighttime stroll

This large buck was seen just after the sun went down.  Whitetail deer are most active during dusk and dawn, and often feed in low-light.​

Fundy Region NB / July 23 / 9:55 pm / 15°C​

Bird Recorders

Biodiversity monitoring program 

Sound Recorders: Name that tune. 

Over 260 acoustic recorders capture bird songs across different forest types during breeding season. The recordings reveal which species are here, where they settle, and how the forest supports them. It's a way to track life in the canopy-song by song. 

Captured in Sound: Signs of a Healthy Forest 

Blackburnian Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

Duram Bridge region, NB / June 26 / 7:13am​

American Woodcock

American Woodcock

Minto region, NB / May 30 / 9:38pm​

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

 Minto region, NB / June 24  / 10:26pm​

Ovenbird

Ovenbird

  Duram Bridge region, NB / May 17 / 7:35am​

Hermit Thrush

Hermit Thrush

  Penniac region, NB / May 11 / 6:10am

White-throated Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Chipman region, NB / June 10 / 5:37am

Did you know?

NOW THAT’S A BIG PLAYLIST.

Each year, our Biodiversity Monitoring program will collect 55 terabytes of audio and video data.

Just the bird recordings from one breeding season would take someone 6.5 years to listen to—non-stop, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Andrew McCartney

“Part of caring for the land is understanding how plants, birds and animals utilize the forest and maintaining adequate habitat.  We deploy song recorders and trail cameras to give us feedback on how species respond over time, which helps inform our management decisions on the ground.”

Andrew McCartney Science Director