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Innovative use of IdentiFlight tower occurring on Babbitt Ranches.
Babbitt Ranches and its nonprofit research arm, Landsward Foundation, have long considered the golden eagle a sensitive species and have been monitoring the SP Crater area in particular for decades as an important golden eagle territory. In collaboration with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, they have been focused on protecting the eagles from human disturbances during the critical breeding and nesting period occurring now, from January through May.
Innovative use of IdentiFlight tower occurring on Babbitt Ranches.
Meanwhile, Babbitt Ranches began researching renewable energy in the early 2000s and considering the potential for wind power development in Northern Arizona. During this period, the IdentiFlight bird detection system appeared on the radar.
The high-tech tool began operating in 2012 and has been deployed internationally across wind farms since 2018. Its purpose is to curtail interaction between avian species and rotating wind turbine blades.
It does this by using high-performance optical systems, robotics and artificial intelligence software. When eagles, other raptors and sensitive species like bats are detected, IdentiFlight has the ability to communicate with nearby wind turbines to slow the blades’ rotations while the flying animals are in the air space.
“This technology also can analyze trends and generate reports, documenting new information that builds on what is already known about species like golden eagles,” said Babbitt Ranches President and General Manager Billy Cordasco.
With this discovery, Babbitt Ranches considered taking the tool a step further. “Since IdentiFlight cameras have eyes on the sky day and night, we wondered if we could install a tower in golden eagle territory to deliberately gather and assimilate data on the large raptors,” he said. “We could learn more about their population health, birthrate and fledgling success, habitat and prey base and use that information to support the species worldwide.”
Today, for the first time, IdentiFlight technology is being used in a conservation framework. A tower was erected on Babbitt Ranches near SP Crater in September where its stereo and wide field of view cameras are operating to detect and process golden eagle images, determine their positions in 3D, clock their velocity and project their trajectory.
“With that, we are hoping to collect data and be able to have enforceable management actions in and around the area, including eliminating the use of lead ammunition that can poison the eagles and the hunting of prey animals such as prairie dogs and rabbits,” said Cordasco. “We can also be more effective in limiting recreational activity in the golden eagle territory to protect breeding and nesting pairs from Jan. 1 through May 31.” FBN
By Bonnie Stevens, FBN
Courtesy Photo: For the first time, IdentiFlight technology is being used solely for conservation purposes. This tower currently is capturing data about golden eagles on Babbitt Ranches north of Flagstaff.
Filed Under: Business, Local News
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