Scientists are doing something new with big data and artificial intelligence (AI).
Instead of just studying one kind of bird, they're using these technologies to understand entire groups of birds that live across different parts of the world.
These computer models look at the full yearly life of each bird species, from when they have babies to when they travel to different places.
How it was tested
The process begins with over 900,000 bird watchers who share what they see with a big science project for biodiversity.
By using advanced technology and AI, the information from these bird watchers helps reveal a lot about how birds live and the things that affect them.
According to a researcher at the Cornell Lab, this method helps us know which birds are where, when they're there, who they're with, and what kind of places they like.
This knowledge is super important in a time when we're losing many different types of animals.
One of the scientists explained that this model can be used for different tasks as long as there's enough data.
Right now, they're not only predicting where birds are but also figuring out how many of each kind there are.
They're even trying to make the model better by including bird sounds along with what the bird looks like.
Why it's important
Collaborations like this, where scientists from different fields work together, are crucial for protecting the variety of life on Earth.
The job of understanding and taking care of our planet's many species is so big that ecologists, the scientists who study living things, need help from computer experts to make smart plans for saving and looking after nature all over the world.
