Read the following passage about AI in protecting birds and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the option that best answers to each of the following questions from 6 to 15.
How AI is Assisting Scientists in Protecting Birds
As bird populations continue to deteriorate globally, scientists and birders are using algorithm-powered apps to gather valuable data about avian species. These capture millions of hours of audio. [I]. Yet, it’s a lot of recordings for a human to sift through.
To process this deluge of data, scientists just need a little help from BirdNET, an AI-powered system launched in 2018 that can identify more than 6,000 species of birds across the globe just by their calls. The technology functions by converting bird calls into spectrograms, soundwave images that the app’s algorithm analyzes. [II]. Since its launch, BirdNET has amassed over 150 million bird sounds, contributing to large-scale conservation projects. BirdNET is not alone—other applications, such as Merlin, also leverage AI to assist scientists and birders in identifying bird calls. These systems enable scientists to process vast quantities of acoustic data, which is crucial for bird conservation.
However, like most AI-based technology, these apps are not without pitfalls. In his 2023 study in the International Journal of Avian Science, ecologist Cristian Pérez-Granados reviewed a range of scientific literature on BirdNET. His research found that BirdNET didn't always register a bird's song, and sometimes misidentified it as another species, which results in "false positives," says Pérez-Granados, who works at the University of Alicante in Spain. [III]. Merlin users have also reported cases of misidentification, which could have negative implications for research projects that incorporate citizen science data.
In spite of these challenges, AI-powered tools have made birdwatching more accessible, even to those with hearing impairments, encouraging broader participation in conservation efforts. [IV]. In fact, it’s a case of "killing two birds with one stone"—AI is not only assisting in tracking bird populations, but it is also making birdwatching more inclusive for everyone.
