How AI and Drones Are Transforming Bird Conservation
Before joining e2m, our Computational Ecologist, Dr Josh Wilson, led research as part of his PhD at The University of Queensland that demonstrated how artificial intelligence (AI) and drone technology can fundamentally change how we monitor and protect bird populations.
Now at e2m, Josh applies this depth of expertise to industry application – combining ecological knowledge with advanced analytics to deliver better outcomes for our clients and for biodiversity.
From PhD Research to Real-World Insight
As part of this work, the study tested how effectively AI could detect birds in drone imagery – traditionally a time-intensive and highly manual task.
The results demonstrated that AI can process and analyse bird detections at a speed and scale not achievable through traditional methods, enabling consistent analysis across large and complex datasets.
To achieve this, the model was trained and validated using a global dataset of nearly 50,000 birds across more than 100 species, spanning a wide range of environments.
These findings demonstrate the scalability of AI-driven approaches, laying a strong foundation for more efficient, data-driven ecological monitoring in practice.
“With AI offering a way to process large numbers of images efficiently, drone surveys can be carried out more often and at larger scales.” Josh explains.
Enhancing, Not Replacing, Ecological Expertise
A key insight from the research is that AI doesn’t replace ecologists – it enhances their impact.
By reducing the time spent reviewing thousands of images, these tools allow experts to focus on higher-value work: interpreting results, designing monitoring programmes, and driving conservation outcomes.
“In these cases, drones and AI shouldn’t replace experienced surveyors-they should free them from wading through knee-deep mud or manually detecting every bird in tens of thousands of images. This gives experts more time to interpret results, design effective monitoring programmes and advocate for conservation action.” Explains Josh “Drones and AI aren’t the right tool for every situation, but they work particularly well for large-bodied birds in open habitats with little canopy cover, like wetlands.
Monitoring bird populations, particularly in remote or wetland environments, has traditionally been time-intensive and constrained by access and scale. These limitations can prevent the level of monitoring needed to inform effective conservation decisions-especially as bird species decline at alarming rates globally.
Bringing This Capability to Our Clients
At e2m, we apply these same principles across our environmental analytics work, bridging the gap between research and practical delivery.
By combining drone-based surveys, computer vision and ecological expertise, we help clients:
- Scale biodiversity monitoring across large and complex landscapes
- Improve confidence in ecological data and reporting
- Reduce time and cost associated with traditional survey methods
- Meet regulatory and compliance requirements with robust, defensible data
All outputs are reviewed by experienced ecologists and underpinned by rigorous quality assurance, ensuring accuracy and confidence for both clients and regulators.
With experts such as Josh on our team, we translate cutting-edge academic work into practical, scalable solutions for industry-helping clients benefit from the latest advances without needing to develop those capabilities themselves.
Looking Ahead
The research has produced one of the most diverse and accurately labelled drone-based bird datasets globally.
As ecological challenges continue to grow in scale and complexity, integrating AI into monitoring programmes will be critical.
At e2m, we’re committed to staying at the forefront-turning scientific innovation into meaningful, on-the-ground impact.
Read the full paper: Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation