Robotic falcons to scare away real birds at Edmonton airport

Edmonton International Airport will soon becomeone of the first airports in the world to use robotic falcons to chase birds from flight paths and discourage nearby nesting.

"EIA is excited to trial this new technology," said SteveRumley, the airport's vice-president of infrastructure.

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Netherlands-based Clear Flight Solutions, which manufacture the drones, said theflight behaviour of the birds is "so indistinguishable from its natural counterpart that other birds believe that their natural enemy is present in the area."

The program will be run in Albertaby Calgary-basedAerium Analyticsusing specially trained pilots, managing director Jordan Cicoriatold The Calgary Eyeopener.

It is a drone, but the robotic bird will flap its wingsto achieve flight and look much like an actual falcon.

"It looks very much like an actual bird of prey as it flies," he said. "Not only the colouring, but more importantlythe silhouette. Most birds can recognize that silhouette rather quickly and immediately identify it as its natural predator."

The company said it usestherobots for a variety of purposes, but integrating them within daily operations at an airport is a first.

"This is truly a historic moment for our company but especially for the entire aviation industry," CEO NicoNijenhuis saidin a news release Tuesday.

Airport promises safety

"For years, there has been a lot of interest from airports. To now officially start integrating our operations at a major Canadian airport is absolutely fantastic."

The airport saidit has always been an early adopter of new technologies and will make surethe "robirds" are used safely.

With files from The Calgary Eyeopener