With Your Help, Haikubox Confirms Birds Fall Silent During Total Solar Eclipse

When we first envisioned Haikubox, we dreamed of a world where everyday bird enthusiasts could play an active role in advancing scientific research. Little did we know that our community of Haikubox users would help confirm one of nature's most fascinating phenomena: birds falling silent during total solar eclipses.

On April 8, 2024, millions plunged into an eerie midday darkness as a solar eclipse swept across North America. For centuries, people
have shared anecdotes about how animals—and especially birds— react during eclipses. Some say birds stop singing entirely, while others report unusual behaviors like roosting or flocking. But until now, these observations were limited by small sample sizes and human biases.

Thanks to Haikubox users, we were able to study bird behavior during the eclipse. Our AI-powered devices automatically recorded bird vocalizations at 344 locations across North America, creating a continent-wide network of acoustic monitoring stations. The results were stunning: bird songs significantly decreased only at sites where the sun was more than 99% obscured.

This study, published in Scientific Reports, wouldn’t have been possible without our community scientists — people just like you who love birds and want to make a difference. By hosting a Haikubox in their backyards, parks, and local areas, these users contributed valuable data to a study that revealed new insights into avian behavior during rare celestial events.

One of our community scientists, Ginny Lindzey, shared her firsthand experience observing the eclipse with her Haikubox:

"As the sky darkened, I noticed an unusual visitor—an Inca Dove— perhaps looking for a safe spot before ‘bedtime.’ Just before totality, my Lesser Goldfinches and Red-Bellied Woodpecker were busy eating, almost like a last snack before settling in. But as the last bit of light faded, they all suddenly left the feeders and headed for the trees—mainly the pecan tree, which had just started leafing out. Once they roosted, everything went completely silent, as if night had suddenly fallen. Then, just as quickly, when the light returned, it was like morning again—birds singing, returning to their feeders, and picking up right where they left off."

Ginny’s notes mirror our data conclusion that birds respond to totality as if night has fallen only when darkness reaches that critical threshold of 99% obscuration or more.

Our goal with this study is that it can help pave the way for future research into how birds respond to other environmental changes like light pollution or extreme weather events.

As founders of Haikubox, we’re incredibly proud of what this community has achieved together. Every Haikubox user is part of a growing network that’s redefining ecological research through passive acoustic monitoring and machine learning. Whether you’re tracking owls at midnight or contributing data for groundbreaking studies like this one, your efforts have real impact on science and conservation.

 

 

                                      Key Points from the Study:

Significant Findings: Bird songs decreased only in areas with 99%+ solar obscuration.

Diverse Responses: Different bird species showed varied behaviors during the eclipse.

Community Impact: Hundreds of Haikubox users contributed valuable data to the study.

AI Technology: Haikubox devices provided unbiased, continuous monitoring of bird vocalizations.

Future Research: The study opens doors for exploring how birds adapt to environmental changes.

 

So what’s next? With your help, we’ll continue exploring how birds adapt to our changing world. We cannot wait to uncover more mysteries about these fascinating creatures. If you’re not yet part of the Haikubox community but want to get involved in meaningful scientific research right from your backyard, send us a message to learn more about how you can join us in making history!