nest

Dodos probably nested on the island's forest floor, feasting on fruits and seeds.

You can see where this termite nest has had the top knocked off it.

Lots of termite nests here.

These strange calls are from her young, buried in an underground nest.

So our ecologist might count other stationary objects that give clues as to how much life is present, like the number of Bald Eagle nests in an area or the amount of cockroach poop on those walls.