At the beginning of June, Audi apprentices installed the first “Horchboxes” in the area near Ingolstadt called “AzuBioTop”, planted as an orchard. The idea for the “Horchbox” originated from the LBV (Association for Bird and Nature Conservation), which has already initiated numerous bird monitoring initiatives. In collaboration with the LBV two dedicated Audi apprentices developed weatherproof recording devices for detecting bird calls, from the birdhouse-like design to the technical interior.

The housing of the solar-powered devices was created using a 3D printer and is equipped with a Raspberry-Pi module, a microphone, and the AI-based bird call recognition system BirdNET. Thanks to a solar panel and a power bank, the “Horchbox” is completely self-sufficient and operates sustainably, efficiently, and smart. Therefore, it can record bird calls around the clock, a particular advantage in hard-to-reach areas or for nocturnal species. The collected data is continuously transmitted to the online database BirdWeather, where you can click on the locations on a map and listen to the bird calls. This generates valuable data on changes in biodiversity in a specific area, even over longer periods of time.

Another “Horchbox” is installed on the grounds of this year's Bavarian Horticultural Show in Furth im Wald, integrated into the Felix Neureuther Foundation's Nature Heroes Trail. Another one is planned to be installed on the Osterfelder Steig in the Upper Bavarian Alps. A successful interaction of nature and technology, implemented with great commitment and know-how by our "Engineers of Optimism," the two Audi apprentices.