Can AI help us understand nature better?
Exploring how bioacoustics can improve our understanding of red-throated diver activity.
The red-throated loon is a migratory aquatic bird found across the Northern Hemisphere, and Sweden is an important part of its breeding range. At one of our wind farm sites in Sweden, we are testing acoustic monitoring devices, or “audioboxes”, to better understand how these birds use the landscape and how their breeding and feeding activities may be affected during project development.
During summer 2026, OX2 launched a pilot project together with the Swedish bioacoustics company ecovibes and specialist environmental consultants from Calluna and EnviroPlanning to explore how automated sound monitoring can enhance biodiversity management in and around renewable energy projects.
At one of our wind farm sites we are exploring in Sweden, we have installed a number of acoustic monitoring devices, or "audioboxes", in areas where red-throated divers (Gavia stellata) are known to occur. The pilot aims to collect sound data that can help us better understand how these birds use the landscape and whether their breeding and feeding activities remain undisturbed during project development.
The red-throated diver is a protected species that is particularly sensitive to disturbances around breeding habitats. It typically nests on small lakes and wetlands and may travel considerable distances to search for fish. Understanding when and how the birds move through an area can provide valuable insights for both conservation and responsible renewable energy development.
A new tool to complement traditional nature inventories
Nature inventories are essential for identifying species and understanding the ecological values of an area. However, they can also be time-consuming and require highly specialized expertise. Traditional bird surveys often involve trained biologists visiting the same locations multiple times during a breeding season, following standardized routes and documenting species through direct observations and listening surveys.
The audioboxes used in this pilot offer a different approach. Installed in the field for extended periods, they continuously collect sound samples during the hours when target species are most active. The recordings are then analysed using AI-powered bioacoustic technology developed by ecovibes, a Swedish company founded by researchers from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). The technology can identify species from their acoustic signatures and help transform thousands of hours of recordings into useful ecological insights.
Importantly, the technology is not intended to replace ecological expertise. Instead, it has the potential to complement traditional field surveys by providing longer-term monitoring and additional data that would otherwise be difficult and costly to collect. Rather than requiring experts to spend extended periods in the field, acoustic monitoring can provide a continuous picture of activity over weeks or months, helping specialists focus their efforts where they are needed most.
Learning through collaboration
This pilot brings together expertise from ecovibes, OX2 and environmental specialists from Calluna and EnviroPlanning. By combining ecological knowledge with emerging monitoring technology, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of how sensitive species such as the red-throated diver behave around our projects.
We are only at the beginning of exploring the possibilities of bioacoustic monitoring. While it is too early to assess its full value, the pilot has shown promising potential, and we look forward to continuing the work and learning more as the initiative develops.
Beyond supporting project planning, long-term monitoring could also help measure the effectiveness of biodiversity enhancement and protection measures over time. Consistent data collection may improve our ability to track trends, identify changes in species activity and better understand whether conservation efforts are having the intended effect. We see great potential for bioacoustic monitoring to become an important complement to existing biodiversity assessments and follow-up activities.
At OX2, we believe renewable energy development and biodiversity stewardship should go hand in hand. Sometimes, gaining a better understanding of nature starts with something simple: listening more carefully.
Protected species in Sweden
About 585 of the estimated 50,000 known plant and animal species in Sweden are protected by law throughout the country. This includes all of Sweden’s 250 bird species.
Published 2026-09-11