Zombie birds! Scientists turn deceased birds into high-tech drones

Researchers at New Mexico Tech's Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro have started creating drones and robots from the preserved bodies of dead birds.

According to a report by USA Today, these "animatronic" bird drones, still in the testing phase, are intended to help study bird formations, coloration, communication patterns, and other ecological dynamics.

Lead researcher and mechanical engineering professor Mostafa Hassanalian explained that these bird-like drones address challenges that traditional drones face in wildlife monitoring. “Drones generate a lot of noise. For instance, if you’re monitoring elephants in Africa, the noise often frightens animals, causing them to scatter,” Hassanalian noted.


The team’s "nature-inspired robotic systems" are designed to more seamlessly observe wildlife without causing disturbances.

The researchers have created three types of these “zombie birds.” One prototype is a drone with flapping wings, crafted using a taxidermy pheasant's head and wings to blend in naturally among real pheasants.

Additionally, they’ve engineered two robotic versions of mallard ducks: a flying drone and a swimming robot. The flying drone uses the same design as the pheasant model, while the swimming version replicates a duck’s natural movement, with feet that glide smoothly through water, making it useful for studying aquatic life.

Their latest creation involves stationary pigeons equipped with a camera in the neck, allowing for real-time video or broadcasting.

Notably, all birds used in these projects were already deceased, Hassanalian emphasized. He also hinted that the technology could potentially serve for future surveillance applications.