Robot Birds Guide Threatened Sage-Grouse to Safety

A flock of fake birds is saving real lives near Jackson Hole Airport, and the results are already taking flight.

Conservationists in Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park have turned to an unexpected solution to protect the greater sage-grouse, a threatened species known for its elaborate mating dances. They've deployed handcrafted robotic decoys that mimic the birds' distinctive courtship displays, hoping to lure real sage-grouse away from airport runways and into safer habitat.

The problem was urgent. Between 1990 and 2013, at least 32 sage-grouse died in collisions with aircraft near Jackson Hole Airport, many during summer when hens and chicks were most active. The birds' natural breeding grounds overlapped dangerously with airport infrastructure, putting both wildlife and passengers at risk.

Park officials partnered with the community to restore a 100-acre field just south of the runway as an alternative breeding site. Then came the creative part: convincing the birds to use it.

In 2025, middle school art students and local artist Lori Solem crafted the first decoys from papier-mâché with help from the Teton Raptor Center. This year, Jackson Hole High School's robotics team, RoboBroncs, upgraded the design with automated versions that actually dance like male sage-grouse during mating season, complete with puffed chests and fanned tail feathers.

The greater sage-grouse relies on specific open landscapes for breeding, making habitat loss a major threat across the Western United States. These birds are picky about where they gather for their spring mating rituals, so relocating them even slightly can be challenging.

Why This Inspires

This project shows what's possible when schools, artists, scientists, and wildlife managers work together toward a common goal. High schoolers learning robotics got to apply their skills to real conservation challenges while middle schoolers discovered how art can save lives.

The initiative is part of the airport's Wildlife Hazard Management Plan, which aims to improve safety for both aircraft and animals. By creating an attractive alternative habitat complete with convincing robotic neighbors, conservationists are giving sage-grouse a better place to raise their families while reducing dangerous encounters with planes.

Wildlife officials say even small shifts in where these birds choose to gather can make a significant difference in survival rates. The approach offers hope for other airports facing similar conflicts between aviation safety and wildlife protection.

A community came together with papier-mâché, robotics, and restored grassland to prove that creative solutions can work for both people and nature.