Giant old saguaros can be resilient. It's baby saguaros researchers are worried about https://www.npr.org/2024/08/14/nx-s1-5018064/saguaro-dying-phoenix-arizona-sonoran-desert

"There was no evidence that the mortality of the older #saguaros had increased... But on the other hand, we have found extremely low numbers of new or young saguaros coming into the population... The best way to preserve this species is with the help of the community... They're experimenting with rocks and #plants and shade... to see which is the most beneficial to the young #cactuses"

A Bold Bet to Ensure the Future of Desert #Birds: Plant Thousands of Cacti https://www.audubon.org/news/bold-bet-ensure-future-desert-birds-plant-thousands-cacti

"#saguaros are supporting more than 100 species. Gila #Woodpeckers & Gilded Flickers carve out nests in them, which are later used by Desert Purple Martins, Elf #Owls, the federally threatened Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls, etc. Crested Caracaras & Harris’s #Hawks also build platform nests atop the #cacti’s spiny arms. #Bats feast on #cactus fruits and, along with #bees, pollinate their #flowers"

Here in #Tucson, we're serious about #saguaros and about amino acid #inhibitory #neurotransmitters
#GABA

#neuroscience
#neuro

Hi, everyone! I'm Matt Bandy. I am mainly focused on developing #drone and #AI #computervision survey methods for #wildlife and #plants. I'm currently in the weeds with #tortoise surveys and #distancesampling, but I also am working with #saguaros, #joshuatrees, and #avianmortality. I'd like to do more with #bioacoustics.

Most of this work is in support of #renewableenergy development in the western United States.

#tech4wildlife #tech4conservation #introduction #MachineLearning #DeepLearning