NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Researchers at New Mexico Tech have new developments in their taxidermy bird drone projects that will blow your mind.

Dr. Mostafa Hassanalian, an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology is leading research on “Bio-Drones.” We first told you about their initial taxidermy drones last year, but there are lots of new research they are diving into.

His team believes that these taxidermy drones would aid in wildlife research by blending in with the natural environment. Traditional drones are often disruptive to ecosystems. Their goal is to develop quieter monitoring methods.

Some of the new developments include taxidermy duck drones. Some are made for swimming, others are for flapping.

In the video above you’ll see a taxidermy duck drone. This drone mimics the natural movements of a Mallard duck. Dr. Hassanalian points out, that no ducks were harmed here. These ducks are taxidermy-preserved.

To be clear, these drones are used purely for wildlife monitoring, not spying, Dr. Hassanlian says. “The goal of this project is to develop safe, eco-friendly platforms that can support wildlife monitoring, mitigate bird strikes near airports, and offer novel approaches for environmental observation and research.”

These bird-like drones can get up close to wildlife without startling them. The data gathered is crucial for conservation efforts and environmental monitoring. The team’s goal is to make these aquatic bio-drones look and move just like a live duck.

Engineering these drones to move like a live bird is the biggest challenge. “The feathers of ducks are hydrophobic, meaning they repel water, so that’s a challenge we’ve been dealing with.” The team has also been working on developing a flapping version of the Mallard for out-of-water use.

“This innovative project blends avian physiology with advanced drone mechanics to create drones that closely mimic the natural flight patterns and behaviors of real birds.”

Dr. Hassanlian’s team has also developed a pigeon drone for stationary wildlife monitoring. The camera in the taxidermy pigeon is located in the neck of the pigeon. “This type of pigeon drone can perch into the trees, without distracting other wildlife, for natural wildlife monitoring.”

In the near future, larger birds, such as turkeys may be used in this research. There will also be animal robots eventually developed including snakes, lizards, and frogs.

His team was awarded an NSF grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation for biometric swarm-based remote sensing for inaccessible environments.