May 31, 2023

US Navy is developing drones to exterminate birds’ eggs near airfields

US Navy is developing drones to exterminate birds’ eggs near airfields
US Navy is developing drones to exterminate birds’ eggs near airfieldsUS Navy is developing drones to exterminate birds’ eggs near airfields
birds nesting

Birds nesting near airfields can pose a risk to aircraft

Rebecca Cole/Alamy

A new US Navy autonomous drone will seek out and locate birds’ nests near airfields, armed with a device to prevent their eggs from hatching.

Bird strikes are a serious risk to aircraft, and the US Pentagon spends around $50 million a year managing birds around airfields.

Oiling is a process that involves coating eggs with food-grade oil and blocking pores in the shells to deprive embryos of oxygen. When carried out correctly, it is considered to be a humane …