Robo bird takes to Moreton Bay skies

Above image: The RoBird drone being trialled in Shepparton, Victoria between November 2025 and May 2026. Credit: AERIUM Analytics

A cleverly disguised robotic raptor has taken to the skies over Moreton Bay to keep a watchful eye over the City’s $100 million strawberry industry.

Council has joined forces with research and development corporation Hort Innovation and Canadian technology company AERIUM Analytics to test a remote-control drone bird.

‘RoBird’ mimics natural predatory flight with the aim of creating a long-term deterrent compared to traditional static and noise-based alternatives.

The first field demonstration with RoBird began at Bellmere in May with local strawberry growers supported by Berries Australia and industry representatives.

Mayor Peter Flannery said it is an innovative solution for the City’s $846 million agricultural industry.

“Tech adoption is a key part of Council’s industry development plan and if proven, this kind of technology offers a scalable, wildlife friendly solution to an industry problem,” he said.

“The trials aim to demonstrate reduced crop loss, improved yield protection and consistent performance over time, particularly in bird hotspots common around berry production.”

The drone is part of a three-year national trial program running until 2028, funded by Hort Innovation’s Frontiers program with co-investment from AERIUM Analytics and contributions from the Australian Government.

It has been field tested in Victoria and South Australia.

Moreton Bay accounts for about 62 per cent of all strawberry-bearing farm hectares and 64 per cent of the total volume of strawberries grown in South East Queensland - generating some $100 million in gross value of production.

One in four punnets of strawberries grown in Australia are grown in Moreton Bay, contributing to $420 million in total agricultural crop exports.

Bellmere-based TSL Family Farms owner Laura Wells, whose farm is one half of the Taste’n’See strawberry brand, said birds like lorikeets and corellas feasting on strawberries had cost their business hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“It does vary depending on the weather, but when it gets very overcast, we can have hundreds of lorikeets coming in at one time,” she said.