Subscribe to OPB’s First Look to receive Northwest news in your inbox six days a week.

Good morning, Northwest.

You may use artificial intelligence in your daily life, but how does using it to count wildlife sound? OPB’s Kristian Foden-Vencil dives deep into an Oregon Department of Forestry project that uses AI to analyze sounds collected in the wild to count birds and other animals.

And if you missed the fourth annual Invitational Chainsaw Competition in Sandy, Oregon, last weekend, we’ve got you covered. OPB’s Joni Auden Land has the story.

Here’s your First Look at Saturday’s news.

— Winston Szeto

Top story

Biologists use cutting edge tech to help save Oregon’s threatened species

Oregon’s forests are home to a wide variety of wildlife, including threatened species like the northern spotted owl and the marbled murrelet. The Oregon Department of Forestry needs to count such species to help protect them and enhance their habitats.

After decades of biologists going out into the woods and physically counting animals, the agency is now turning to sound recorders and AI because they’re cheaper and can gather a lot more information.

“Autonomous recording units with rechargeable batteries, memory cards, and the software costs are coming in the $600-$700 range per device,” said Oregon Department of Forestry biologist Corey Grinnell.

The agency is currently spending millions to send biologists into the forests to conduct callback surveys, where they mimic a bird call and count responses.(Kristian Foden-Vencil)

Learn More

3 things to know

1. Wildfires remain a top concern for officials as dry and hot weather conditions are expected to roll through much of western Oregon and Washington this weekend and early next week. (Amanda Linares)
2. Oregon and Washington are among at least six states that are declining to participate in the “Great American State Fair” that kicks off in late June and extends past the Fourth of July weekend. (Dirk VanderHart)
3. A new six-team professional women’s softball league will host games at the Hillsboro Ballpark starting June 18, joining Oregon’s growing number of women’s sports teams.(Kyra Buckley)

Northwest headlines

• Washington state is spending $120 million on the World Cup. Will it be worth it? (Anna Boiko-Weyrauch, KUOW)
• Parasite thriving in warming waters of Upper Klamath River killing off young Chinook salmon (Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle)
• ICE confirms two arrests on North Coast, dismisses concerns (Katie Frankowicz, KMUN)
• Anti-ICE protester in Portland sentenced to 30 months in prison for assaulting a federal officer (Claire Rush, Associated Press)
• Oregon chainsaw competition creates buzz for timber industry (Joni Auden Land)
• Crews are building a fire break around the outskirts of White Salmon. It’s taken decades to get off the ground (Courtney Flatt, Northwest Public Broadcasting)
• Patagonia is suing Pattie Gonia, an Oregon-based drag queen performer with an environmental message (Brittany Peterson, Associated Press)

One more look

Superabundant recipe: Chicken liver pâté with porcini mushrooms and cherry confiture

One of my favorite things about this time of year is the sheer ease with which I can turn a few ingredients into something that looks like it walked straight out of a French country bistro.

Like, Edith Piaf in the background, bicycle with a bouquet in the basket, straight out of central casting. Sure, you can zhuzh — but you’re really better off doing less.

It’s high cherry season, and while clafouti, crisps, and buttery turnovers will always hold a dear place in my heart, sometimes the sweet + savory math just really maths. We’re also at the late end of spring porcini season, another local ingredient that happens to be delicious with cherries.

Classic French mom-style chicken liver pâté is the perfect meeting point here — chicken livers are about as cost-effective as you can get in an animal-based protein, and the porcini still bring their elegant earthiness, even in an affordably small amount.(Heather Arndt Anderson)

Learn More

Subscribe to OPB’s First Look to receive Northwest news in your inbox six days a week.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/06/13/ai-boosts-wildlife-monitoring-opb-first-look/