Prairie chicken robots simulate mating dances and sounds in Wyoming to bring the species back to habitats and prevent breeding at Jackson Hole Airport after a decline from 73 to 3.

Written by Carla Teles

Published on 11/04/2026 at 22:16

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Robots in the shape of prairie chickens simulate lek rituals in restored habitat near Jackson Hole, after decline from 73 to 3 males, and try to reduce collisions with planes

The robots have become an unusual conservation tool in Wyoming, United States. Robotic decoys in the shape of prairie chickens are being installed in restored areas to simulate mating dances and vocalizations, attracting real birds back to safer breeding sites.

The strategy has gained urgency because the local population has plummeted: in a lek in Jackson Hole, the number of males fell from 73 in 1950 to just three last year, according to the database. The plan also aims to divert breeding away from the vicinity of Jackson Hole Airport, where air activity poses risks to the birds.

Why robots entered the conservation plan

The robots are part of a larger effort in Grand Teton National Park to influence bird behavior and accelerate the recolonization of restored habitats. The logic is that, even when the habitat is ready, wildlife does not always reappear immediately, so the simulation tries to create the feeling that the site is already active.

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How robots imitate the lek ritual

The robots are programmed to reproduce the typical lek behavior, where males perform coordinated displays to attract females. The decoys execute repetitive sequences of movements and are combined with recordings of vocalizations, creating the illusion of an active breeding site.

Robotics mentor Gary Duquette described these machines as a kind of “Frankenbird”, because they mix realistic appearance with improvised solutions to function in the field.

Simple materials, sensors, and motorized versions

Robots in Jackson Hole use lek ritual to attract prairie chickens in restored habitat and keep birds away from the airport.

The robots were built with a mix of realistic and improvised materials. They include feathers provided by wildlife authorities, as well as components like foam and fabric. Some units remain static, while others are motorized to repeat movement patterns observed during mating displays.

This approach was designed to be modular and low-cost, with participation from local students and robotics teams, making it easy to test and adjust quickly.

Restored habitat and data monitoring

The restoration effort has already converted about 100 acres of former pastures into suitable habitat, but natural recolonization has been slow. Therefore, the robots come in as a push to stimulate activity, encouraging birds to gather and start nesting in safer locations.

In parallel, wildlife authorities, including the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, are expanding the use of data-driven tools to monitor populations.

According to Interesting Engineering, a tool that analyzes annual lek activity and combines it with historical data to track trends at local and state levels.

Testing in the current season and what may come next

The robots are being tested during the current breeding season, with cameras monitoring whether real birds respond to the simulations.

If they work, similar systems could be applied in other conservation projects, especially where restoring habitat alone is not enough to attract wildlife.

Do you think decoy robots are a good solution for conservation, or does this type of intervention change the natural behavior of species too much?

Prairie chicken robots simulate mating dances and sounds in Wyoming to bring the species back to habitats and prevent breeding at Jackson Hole Airport after a decline from 73 to 3.

Robots in the shape of prairie chickens simulate lek rituals in restored habitat near Jackson Hole, after decline from 73 to 3 males, and try to reduce collisions with planes

Why robots entered the conservation plan

How robots imitate the lek ritual

Simple materials, sensors, and motorized versions

Restored habitat and data monitoring

Testing in the current season and what may come next

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Prairie chicken robots simulate mating dances and sounds in Wyoming to bring the species back to habitats and prevent breeding at Jackson Hole Airport after a decline from 73 to 3.

Robots in the shape of prairie chickens simulate lek rituals in restored habitat near Jackson Hole, after decline from 73 to 3 males, and try to reduce collisions with planes

Why robots entered the conservation plan

How robots imitate the lek ritual

Simple materials, sensors, and motorized versions

Restored habitat and data monitoring

Testing in the current season and what may come next

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Austrian engineers have developed an inflatable concrete technology that transforms flat slabs into domes using only air pressure, eliminating scaffolding and temporary forms, and potentially changing the way bridges, tunnels, and curved roofs are constructed worldwide.

Australia prepares to dredge 96.5 million m³ in Moreton Bay to deepen, widen, and realign channels of the Port of Brisbane, in a project of up to 25 years designed to accommodate larger ships and enhance maritime safety and regional port efficiency.

A robot named Walter does the work of five bricklayers per hour and can save the construction industry, where the average age of professionals is 46 years and almost no one wants to learn the trade anymore, in the United Kingdom.

Spain installs two giant pipelines 2.2 km off the coast to draw water from the Mediterranean and supply a megafacility capable of producing 200 million liters of drinking water per day.

Without wheels, iron, or machines, teams of up to 32 men would have dragged 2.3-ton blocks over wet sand up a ramp embedded in the pyramid itself, raising the structure in 20 to 27 years, according to a new computer model that reignites a millennia-old debate.

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