Vocal activity of the Eastern Ground Parrot (Pezoporus wallicus wallicus) and implications for acoustic monitoring efforts

Abstract

Vocalisations are a key component of communication for species that employ crypsis. The Eastern Ground Parrot (Pezoporus wallicus wallicus) is one such species that lives within dense heathland habitats in eastern Australia. Passive acoustic monitoring is now a common method used for avian monitoring and conservation programmes. For implementation of this method to be successful, we require a minimum level of understanding of the environmental and behavioural factors that may influence vocal activity. We tested how Eastern Ground Parrot call rate and chorus duration fluctuated across key temporal, environmental and meteorological variations over one year using passive acoustic monitoring from one site. Season, moon phase and days since rainfall predicted vocal activity of the birds at this site. Our results demonstrate the importance of considering the behavioural response of species to environmental conditions to account for potential bias in the interpretation of passive acoustic monitoring data.