FAQs
Technology
What kind of AI technology does Chorus use?
- Chorus uses ‘on-device’ AI to match sounds to species. ‘On-device’ means that it is the technology within our ‘little green box’ (as opposed to a connected server) that analyses these sounds.
- Our current AI model has been trained on European birds. However, we hope to expand this in the future.
How long does the battery last on the ‘Chorus’ device?
Depending on usage, your Chorus device can last up to 2 weeks without recharging. You can schedule how often you want your Chorus to be awake and listening for birds through our app.
What kind of batteries does ‘Chorus’ use?
Internal rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
Does Chorus identify every bird?
Currently Chorus can only identify European birds
Maintenance & Troubleshooting
How do I maintain my ‘Chorus’ device?
‘Chorus’ is a self-contained sealed unit and does not need any technical maintenance. All that is required, is to charge it, using the provided USB C cable. The battery status of your ‘Chorus’ device can be monitored through our app.
How do I reset the device?
Simply plug into power using the USB C cable provided to reset your device.
What should I do if the device is not working properly?
If you believe your device is not working properly then we offer our most sincere apologies and ask you to email us at: hello@chorusbirds.com.
Scope
Can you download and store data from the device?
Audio data that has been recorded by the device is stored on a SD card within its casing. This audio data is then transferred to your ‘Chorus’ app (via wifi and/or cellular data). If you are a conservation organisation and would like to discuss data management across multiple devices please get in touch: hello@chorusbirds.com.
Can Chorus be used in any environment?
Yes. Chorus works by using AI to distinguish bird song from background noise. This means Chorus can be used in any environment – including urban settings.
Can the user see how certain the algorithm is about the species identified?
Yes. When our app notifies you about a visiting bird, this includes a percentage confidence. In addition, other potential species and their percentage confidences will be listed.
Can the user listen to the clip used to identify a bird?
Our app will isolate audio clips containing bird sounds from longer audio recordings. These can be accessed and played back within the ‘logbook’ section of the app. In addition, the user can mark if the clip has identified the bird correctly.
How does the weather affect the ‘Chorus’ device’s performance?
- Our devices are encased within a sturdy and waterproof shell – this helps ensure longevity in the varied British weather. If the internal temperature of the device drops to -5 degrees, the device has been programmed to go to into sleep mode.
Sounds from weather will not impact the ability of ‘Chorus’ to predict a bird. This is as our AI has been trained to ignore these.
Scientific Application
Can Chorus be used for NocMigging?
We are currently developing Chorus for NogMigging, in partnership with professional conservationists. To facilitate NocMigging, we intend to offer a ‘Parabolic Mic’ attachment soon.
Can Chorus be applied for non-British birds and other animals?
Currently, Chorus is focused on European birds. However, we can adapt our AI for other birds and animals. If this is something you’re interested in and you have existing data, please contact us: hello@chorusbirds.com. We have previously experimented with bees, toads, and bats.
How do you foresee ‘Chorus’ being used for conservation?
Chorus can be used to monitor and track bird populations in real time. Our vision is that findings facilitated by Chorus can help inform future responses to our biodiversity crisis.
Misc
Is Chorus Squirrel-proof?
Yes. Chorus has been constructed to be as durable as possible – cased in a very thick shell. Our research has found that squirrels tend to avoid the device. In the rare case that a squirrel has made physical contact, the device has withstood. In addition, our devices have taken pecks from Woodpeckers and been scratched and tossed around by Pheasants without issue.