Drones vs birds: developing sustainable solutions to crop attack
The arduous task of protecting crops from bird damage is set to transform, with drones leading the charge. A new project funded by Hort Innovation will develop and commercialise a suite of drone-based deterrence solutions to help tree crop growers reduce crop and financial losses caused by birds.
Led by drone technology specialists AERIUM Analytics, in collaboration with Australian industry partners and The University of Adelaide, the project will unlock new opportunities for growers to adopt innovative, non-lethal bird deterrence strategies that are both scalable and environmentally responsible.
AERIUM’s RoBird technology, an ornithopter drone that mimics the flight of a Peregrine Falcon, will be deployed alongside complementary deterrence tools, an approach which has reduced crop loss by up to 75% in overseas trials.
Over the next three years, trials using fixed-wing and flapping-wing drones across key crops and growing regions will be conducted, including almonds, summer and pome fruit in the Goulburn Valley, and strawberries in Caboolture. The aim is to deliver evidence-based, best-practice for growers, tailored to bird species, crop types, operating conditions and drone configurations. These practices will be designed to support broader adoption across additional crops and regions.
Anthony Kachenko, General Manager Sustainability and Production R&D at Hort Innovation, said the project focuses on both protection of crops and responsible management practices.
“Bird damage is a persistent challenge for growers across Australia. This project brings together cutting-edge drone technology and expert wildlife management to deliver practical, scalable solutions that protect crops, improve productivity and do not harm local bird wildlife,” he said.
There’s more detail about the project here.
The project Drone-Enabled Bird Management for Australian Horticulture (AS24007) is funded through Hort Innovation Frontiers and contributions from the Australian Government.