Madrid has launched an unusual system: fifteen acoustic sensors with artificial intelligence listen around the clock to birds and bats in two city parks. The devices do not record sounds but instantly recognize species by their calls and ultrasound, already gathering more than twelve thousand observations.
Seven sensors are located in Madrid Río, a bustling park with high recreational pressure, and eight in the more tranquil and extensive forest park Valdebebas-Felipe VI. The difference in conditions allows for comparing how fauna adapts to varying levels of human presence. The sensors record not only the species but also the time, temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure.
Initial data already show contrasts. In Madrid Río, 66 bird species and 13 bat species were identified, while in Valdebebas, 103 and 23 respectively. Among the frequent visitors are the magpie, greenfinch, goldfinch, and blackbird; among the bats, the Natterer's bat and the serotine bat. In the more natural park, observations are significantly more numerous.
All information is automatically fed into a digital platform with a biodiversity 'twin': heat maps, graphs, and GIS tools help track seasonal changes and plan green space maintenance. The Spanish developers emphasize that the system fully respects privacy—sounds are not stored.
The project, presented on 26 August 2026, demonstrates how modern technology turns urban parks into living laboratories. It allows not only recording the presence of species but also understanding how urbanization affects their activity and distribution.
Such monitoring networks help cities make more informed decisions on biodiversity conservation, relying on real data rather than one-off surveys.
