UC Davis bird barn unlocks raptor flight secrets for smarter drone design

High-speed cameras record every twist and turn of hawks and other birds of prey to inspire more agile unmanned aircraft.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Researchers at the University of California, Davis have created a state-of-the-art facility called the Center for Animal Flight and Innovation that uses high-speed cameras to meticulously track the movements of raptors in flight. By studying how hawks and other birds of prey steer, brake, and recover in tight spaces, the team hopes to apply those insights to designing more agile and maneuverable drones and improving rehabilitation techniques for injured birds.

Why it matters

The research at the UC Davis bird barn could lead to significant advancements in drone technology, making unmanned aerial vehicles more nimble and better able to navigate complex environments. Additionally, the insights gained from observing raptor flight patterns could help veterinarians provide more effective care for injured birds of prey.

The details

The facility features a metal barn lined with white curtains and bright lighting to keep the birds comfortable. Rows of high-speed infrared cameras track the movements of the birds' wings, tails, and bodies by recording reflective dots placed on them, similar to motion capture technology used in animation. This allows researchers to reconstruct the birds' flight patterns with sub-millimeter accuracy. The data collected can then be used by engineers to model wing shapes, 3D print prototypes, and test them in the college's wind tunnel.

  • The Center for Animal Flight and Innovation was established in 2026 at the University of California, Davis.

The players

Christina Harvey

An assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at UC Davis who co-founded the Center for Animal Flight and Innovation.

Michelle Hawkins

A professor in the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine who also works with the California Raptor Center and co-founded the Center for Animal Flight and Innovation.

U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory

The organization that provided a grant to fund the high-end imaging systems used in the UC Davis bird barn facility.

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What they’re saying

“We're the only lab in the U.S. that I'm aware of that could fly birds in this type of facility.”

— Christina Harvey, Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, UC Davis (UC Davis news release)

What’s next

The researchers plan to continue studying raptor flight patterns in the bird barn, with the goal of applying their findings to the design of more agile and maneuverable drones. They will also explore how the insights gained could lead to improved rehabilitation techniques for injured birds of prey.

The takeaway

The cutting-edge research being conducted at the UC Davis bird barn has the potential to revolutionize the drone industry, making unmanned aerial vehicles far more nimble and capable of navigating complex environments. Additionally, the study of raptor flight could lead to breakthroughs in veterinary care for injured birds of prey, demonstrating the broad applications of this innovative facility.