Life, song and fire

Australians are lucky to share their forests with some of the world's greatest singers—birds.

Birds are more than beautiful musicians. They're also important indicators of forest health.

Scientists can identify bird species by listening to their songs, using a technique called ecoacoustics. Placing tiny audio recorders in trees, museum scientists like Liam, captured weeks of bird calls across the Grampians/Gariwerd National Park before and after a devastating bushfire.

Comparing these recordings reveals which birds returned, which disappeared, and which held on after the fire. This information helps Park Rangers understand how the forest is recovering, and guides conservation.

This is a story of life, song, and fire.

This program will be presented in the Learning Lab Studio. 

Students will experience 

• Listening to Museum Victoria’s Research Assistant, Ornithology: Liam Meredith.
• Liam is an ecoacoustician at the Museums Victoria Research Institute (MVRI), studying bird sounds to better understand and protect ecosystems.
• Liam has contributed to several acoustic monitoring projects, including Sounds of Recovery, Ecosystem Resilience, and Hearing Victoria's Birds. Liam recently completed an Honours project investigating how the 2024–25 bushfires affected bird communities in Gariwerd (Grampians National Park), using bird songs to track changes. 

Students will learn 

• About the contemporary methods biologists use to collect information in the field. 
• The importance of monitoring birds to understand ecosystems. 

Other key information 

• National Science Week is Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology.
• No bookings needed. However, places will be available on a first-arrival basis.
• The Learning Lab Studio is located near the Blue Whale skeleton.