AI to protect birds flying over wind farms in Southeast Europe

Birds soaring over European wind farms may soon face fewer risks, thanks to artificial intelligence. US-based Boulder Imaging has partnered with Croatian environmental consultancy Oikon Ltd. to roll out IdentiFlight, an AI-powered bird detection and protection system, at wind farms across Southeast Europe.

Source: Vision Systems

As Croatia accelerates wind energy development under the European Green Deal, new regulations require stricter environmental impact assessments, particularly near protected Natura 2000 sites. The IdentiFlight system directly addresses this challenge by combining real-time bird monitoring with automated turbine curtailment.

The technology identifies high-concern species such as Eurasian griffons, honey buzzards, golden eagles, and kestrels, shutting down turbines only when necessary. According to Boulder Imaging, the system has already reduced bird fatalities by up to 85% worldwide, while limiting power generation losses to under 1%.

IdentiFlight is a proven solution that aligns with our mission to harmonise development with nature conservation. We’re excited to bring this cutting-edge technology to Croatia and Southeast Europe, where biodiversity protection is critical.

^{Dalibor Hatić, general manager of Oikon Ltd}

More than 520 IdentiFlight units are in operation globally. The first Croatian deployments are scheduled for 2026, focusing on key migratory routes and ecologically sensitive areas.