Professor David Watson is on a mission to find out what wildlife are doing when no-one is watching.
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The Charles Sturt University academic is part of a team of researchers involved in setting up motion-sensor cameras and solar-powered sound recordings in wetlands across the country.
"Essentially, we'll eves-drop on what's going on [in the wetlands] when we walk away," Professor Watson said.
"The birds record their own data.
"Everything that happens in that system, birds, storms, whatever causes sounds there, we'll record."
Using the example of the rail - a species of wetland-dwelling bird Professor Watson describes as somewhat like a "scrawny chicken" - the team will monitor the activity of usually very shy wildlife.
"Rails are very picky about where they live and particularly about where they breed," Professor Watson said.
"They're not much to look at but we don't know a lot about them because they're hard to find."
The project consists of three main researchers including Professor Watson.
He is joined by Dr Michael Towsey and Dr Elizabeth Znidersic, and will be assisted by a dozen researchers in lab work.
In November, the team will begin scoping out areas around the Riverina, including wetlands in Wagga.
With 400 sensors already deployed in wetlands around the country, this week, the team has been given scope to extend their work after receiving $400,000 in philanthropic donations.
"Not only will this donation generate significant knowledge in this field, it is a wonderful example of how selfless individuals can have an impact on the world we live in."