An unassuming metal barn at the edge of the UC Davis campus is now home to some of the most sophisticated high-speed cameras in the country — and the birds that put the equipment to the test.
Inside, engineers and veterinarians have created the Center for Animal Flight and Innovation, believed to be the only U.S. laboratory — and one of just a handful worldwide — designed to record raptors in motion with ultra‑sharp, slow‑motion video. The facility focuses on hawks and other birds of prey, tracking every twist of a wing and flick of a tail as they thread through obstacles or dive at high speed.
Researchers say those midair maneuvers might eventually reshape how drones are built and flown, and provide better ways to care for injured birds. By decoding how raptors steer, brake and recover in tight quarters, they hope to inspire more agile un-crewed aircraft and more effective rehabilitation techniques…