Where’s Whaledo: A software toolkit for array localization of animal vocalizations. Snyder, E. R., A. Solsona-Berga, S. Baumann-Pickering, K. E. Frasier, S. M. Wiggins, and J. A. Hildebrand. PLoS Computational Biology. 2024. 20:e1011456
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  • May 20, 2024

Where’s Whaledo is a software toolkit that uses a combination of automated processes and user interfaces to greatly accelerate the process of reconstructing animal tracks from arrays of passive acoustic recording devices. Passive acoustic localization is a non-invasive yet powerful way to contribute to species conservation. By tracking animals through their acoustic signals, important information on diving patterns, movement behavior, habitat use, and feeding dynamics can be obtained. This method is useful for helping to understand habitat use, observe behavioral responses to noise, and develop potential mitigation strategies. Animal tracking using passive acoustic localization requires an acoustic array to detect signals of interest, associate detections on various receivers, and estimate the most likely source location by using the time difference of arrival (TDOA) of sounds on multiple receivers. Where’s Whaledo combines data from two small-aperture volumetric arrays and a variable number of individual receivers

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Behavioral Response Research Evaluation Workshop II (BRREW II)
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Western gray whale detections in western Pacific
June 8, 2026
Gray whale vocalizations are well-known and have been detected on mobile U.S. Navy passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) systems for decades. Gray whales produce highly variable and complex signals. Given some historical and conservation interest in the overall distribution and migratory patterns and behaviors of gray whales in the north Pacific, the Navy has conducted systematic monitoring for the calls of gray whales in times and areas that would inform species distribution patterns.
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