ZestyZebra
Well-known member
Orkney's Unlikely Heroes: AI-Powered Effort to Save Island's Bird Population from Stoat Invasion
A sleek and sinister predator has taken over the moors and coasts of Orkney, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. The stoat, an invasive species that arrived on the island around 2011, has exploded in population and is now wreaking havoc on native birdlife, including Arctic terns, hen harriers, and curlews.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Scotland (RSPB) has launched a massive effort to eradicate the stoats and protect Orkney's unique wildlife. The project, which has been given a £16m budget and 46 staff, is being aided by cutting-edge technology, including artificial intelligence-powered cameras that can detect even the slightest movement.
The AI system, sourced from New Zealand, uses thermal binoculars and drones to monitor stoat activity, supplementing traditional trapping methods with a far more sensitive monitoring tool. The thermal detectors operate perfectly in darkness, sending live alerts in real-time after video footage is uploaded to a cloud server.
While the project has faced setbacks, including an interruption during the Covid crisis when stoat numbers soared again, conservationists remain optimistic about their chances of success. With the help of AI-powered cameras and other technology, they aim to detect even the most elusive stoats and trap them before they can cause further harm.
The results so far have been promising, with a 1,267% increase in curlew hatchings, a 218% rise in vole activity, and a 64% increase in hen harrier numbers. The project's lead technologist, James Geluk, says that the AI system is "a much more accurate monitoring tool than a usual trail camera would be."
The RSPB hopes to begin the "mop-up" phase of the project in December, after eradicating 95% of stoats from Orkney. With an estimated 100 pregnant stoats left on the island, conservationists are confident that they can protect Orkney's unique wildlife and restore balance to the ecosystem.
For Sarah Sankey, area operations manager for RSPB Scotland, the project is personal. "We've seen it before we started eradicating them," she says. "There were stoats running between people's legs, stoats in people's kitchen cupboards. We saw a perfect disaster where we had loads and loads of food year-round, but nothing to control the stoats."
The success of this effort is crucial for Orkney's native wildlife, which is already facing extinction due to climate change and habitat loss. The RSPB hopes that by eradicating the stoat population, they can restore balance to the ecosystem and protect the island's unique biodiversity.
As conservationists continue their efforts, one thing is clear: AI-powered technology is playing a vital role in this battle for Orkney's wildlife.
A sleek and sinister predator has taken over the moors and coasts of Orkney, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. The stoat, an invasive species that arrived on the island around 2011, has exploded in population and is now wreaking havoc on native birdlife, including Arctic terns, hen harriers, and curlews.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Scotland (RSPB) has launched a massive effort to eradicate the stoats and protect Orkney's unique wildlife. The project, which has been given a £16m budget and 46 staff, is being aided by cutting-edge technology, including artificial intelligence-powered cameras that can detect even the slightest movement.
The AI system, sourced from New Zealand, uses thermal binoculars and drones to monitor stoat activity, supplementing traditional trapping methods with a far more sensitive monitoring tool. The thermal detectors operate perfectly in darkness, sending live alerts in real-time after video footage is uploaded to a cloud server.
While the project has faced setbacks, including an interruption during the Covid crisis when stoat numbers soared again, conservationists remain optimistic about their chances of success. With the help of AI-powered cameras and other technology, they aim to detect even the most elusive stoats and trap them before they can cause further harm.
The results so far have been promising, with a 1,267% increase in curlew hatchings, a 218% rise in vole activity, and a 64% increase in hen harrier numbers. The project's lead technologist, James Geluk, says that the AI system is "a much more accurate monitoring tool than a usual trail camera would be."
The RSPB hopes to begin the "mop-up" phase of the project in December, after eradicating 95% of stoats from Orkney. With an estimated 100 pregnant stoats left on the island, conservationists are confident that they can protect Orkney's unique wildlife and restore balance to the ecosystem.
For Sarah Sankey, area operations manager for RSPB Scotland, the project is personal. "We've seen it before we started eradicating them," she says. "There were stoats running between people's legs, stoats in people's kitchen cupboards. We saw a perfect disaster where we had loads and loads of food year-round, but nothing to control the stoats."
The success of this effort is crucial for Orkney's native wildlife, which is already facing extinction due to climate change and habitat loss. The RSPB hopes that by eradicating the stoat population, they can restore balance to the ecosystem and protect the island's unique biodiversity.
As conservationists continue their efforts, one thing is clear: AI-powered technology is playing a vital role in this battle for Orkney's wildlife.
! And wow, AI-powered cameras are being used in such a unique way – I mean who knew thermal binoculars could be so effective? 
It’s amazing that they can detect even slight movements and send live alerts. 1,267% increase in curlew hatchings is not bad at all! 
OMG, 1,267% increase in curlew hatchings? 
That's insane! I'm all for eradicating those stoats and protecting the island's bird population 
. The AI-powered cameras are genius 
It's amazing how far we've come with technology, and I'm so excited to see the results of this project 
! And Sarah Sankey's story about seeing stoats in people's kitchens is wild 
. We need more people like her who care about conservation 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to help protect Arctic terns and curlews? The 1,267% increase in curlew hatchings is insane! 
. With an estimated 95% of stoats eradicated by December, I'm hoping for a major success story from this project 
! I mean, can you believe there was even a time when people had to deal with stoats just running around their homes? 
It's crazy how these invasive species can take over and cause so much damage. The fact that they've seen a 1,267% increase in curlew hatchings is amazing - it gives me hope that they'll really make a difference this time 
. Can't believe how fast those stoats took over the island, it's like they had a master plan or something 
. Eradicating 95% of stoats by December sounds like a pretty aggressive plan, but I'm rooting for them 
. Can't wait to hear how it all goes down...
they're talkin 'bout a 1,267% increase in curlew hatchings 
, which is like, totally mind blowin!
, which is way more sensitive than traditional trapping methods. it's like they're gettin' the goods on those sneaky stoats 
. that's gotta be super relievin' for all the bird lovers out there 
.
. anyone got the source on those 1,267% curlew hatchings? that seems too good to be true 
. also what's with the 46 staff and £16m budget? seems like an awful lot of resources for just one island 
.
. The stats are insane - 1,267% increase in curlew hatchings? That's like a huge weight lifted off the island's wildlife 
. Anyway, I'm rooting for these conservationists and hoping they can pull off the "mop-up" phase without a hitch 
.