Wetlands, the "kidneys of the Earth", are considered one of the three major ecosystems on earth, along with forests and oceans. Hosting a diverse range of terrestrial and aquatic plant and animal species, wetlands serve as crucial habitats for numerous bird species.

Beautiful Wetlands vs Critically Endangered Cranes

The Red-crowned Crane is considered as the "God of Wetlands" and is highly sensitive to environmental changes. It is one of 14 bird species in China classified as critically endangered，with only around 2,000 wild Red-crowned Cranes remaining worldwide. Monitoring these rare bird species not only aids in their effective protection but also reflects changes in the wetland ecosystem to some extent.

In China, during spring and autumn seasons, Red-crowned Cranes migrate between the regions of East China and Northeast China, requiring wetland management personnel to make all necessary preparations in advance every year. Recording and tracking data (e.g. time of arrival/departure, and total number) play a significant role in monitoring both the Red-crowned Cranes and the wetland ecosystem. Hence, monitoring rare bird species is essential not only for their conservation but also for understanding the changes in wetland ecological environments.

Red-crowned crane captured by Dahua camera

Vigilant Cranes, Eager for Improved, Smarter Observation

However, Red-crowned Cranes have extremely strong vigilance. Even while foraging or resting, there are often adult birds designated to be on alert, making warning calls and taking flight if any danger is detected. Therefore, it becomes challenging for monitoring personnel to observe them up close, as they need to maintain a distance of several hundred meters using binoculars to avoid disturbing the cranes.

Such limitations in observation pose difficulties in monitoring the population distribution and activities of Red-crowned Cranes. To achieve efficient and intelligent monitoring while minimizing human interference, many wetlands have enlisted the assistance of an intelligent "avian expert".

Dahua: the Guardian of Cranes with Smart Technologies

In recent years, avian intelligent recognition systems have been increasingly applied in wetland monitoring. Dahua Technology actively explores the integration of technology and wetland conservation to support the monitoring and protection of bird species across multiple wetlands.

By employing high-point video footage combined with avian intelligent recognition algorithms, rare bird species like the Red-crowned Crane can be automatically identified and counted. This allows monitoring personnel to discover and observe various bird species clearly and promptly without disturbing them. Additionally, techniques such as background removal and contour deformation processing help reduce the interference caused by lighting conditions and backgrounds, ensuring that the footage presents the identifying characteristics, location, and time for each bird. With this approach, comprehensive and accurate data recording and result analysis can be achieved without disturbing the Red-crowned Cranes up close.

Red-crowned crane captured by intelligent bird recognition algorithms

A Brighter Future for Biodiversity Using Intelligent Analysis

In addition to population counting, vocalizations play a crucial role in bird research. By utilizing voiceprint recognition, it becomes possible to track and study the population distribution of rare bird species. Many regions have established and improved databases of avian vocalizations, creating a foundation for biodiversity monitoring and analysis. These databases, combined with visual identification, are being cataloged in order to facilitate more comprehensive research and analysis, optimize timely conservation measures, and enhance dynamic and diverse science communication and education.

Dahua Technology continues to empower biodiversity conservation through technology. The Dahua AI platform enables continuous algorithm training that helps reduce the development cycle of recognition algorithms for specific species. At present, Dahua has developed over 800 bird recognition algorithms, with more than 500 focused on waterfowl and migratory birds primarily inhabiting wetland environments. This extensive collection of algorithms greatly supports and contributes to the biodiversity conservation efforts around the globe.