Interest in Spoor’s AI Software for Bird Monitoring is Skyrocketing

Spoor: Pioneering Computer Vision Technology to Protect Bird Populations from Wind Turbines

Spoor, founded in 2021, aims to harness computer vision to mitigate the impact of wind turbines on local bird species. The startup has validated its technology and is witnessing increasing demand from wind farms and other sectors.

Innovative Technology Tracking Bird Migration Patterns

Based in Oslo, Norway, Spoor has developed advanced software that utilizes computer vision to monitor and identify bird populations and their migration routes. This technology can detect birds within a 2.5-kilometer range (approximately 1.5 miles) and is compatible with any standard high-resolution camera.

Enhancing Wind Farm Operations through Smart Data

Wind farm operators can leverage this crucial information to strategically determine wind farm placements and better understand migration patterns. They can even adjust turbine operations—slowing or stopping them—during peak migration times to protect bird populations.

A Passion for Conservation: Insights from Spoor’s Co-Founder

Ask Helseth, co-founder and CEO of Spoor, shared his motivation with TechCrunch last year, citing the lack of effective tracking tools in the wind farm industry despite stringent regulations governing their operations and their impact on local avifauna.

“Regulators are raising expectations, yet the industry lacks adequate solutions,” Helseth noted. “Many field assessments still rely on binoculars and trained dogs to tally bird collisions with turbines.”

Inflated Capabilities: From 1 km to 2.5 km

Since its seed funding round in 2024, Spoor has expanded its tracking capabilities from a 1-kilometer range to a powerful 2.5 kilometers. This enhancement has led to a remarkable 96% accuracy in bird identification, thanks to an influx of data feeding into their AI algorithms.

Collaborations and Future Expansions

Spoor now operates on three continents and collaborates with over 20 leading energy companies worldwide. The startup is also generating interest from diverse sectors, including airports and aquaculture, and has partnered with mining giant Rio Tinto to monitor bat populations.

Exploring New Opportunities with Caution

While there is growing curiosity about using Spoor’s technology to track other small objects, such as drones, Helseth humorously noted, “Drones, in our view, are like plastic birds. They possess a different movement pattern and structure, so we are currently not focusing on collecting that data.”

Funding and Future Aspirations

Spoor successfully secured an €8 million ($9.3 million) Series A funding round, led by SET Ventures, with contributions from Ørstead Ventures and Superorganism, along with other strategic investors.

Helseth anticipates a growing demand for this kind of technology as regulatory scrutiny intensifies. Recently, French authorities shut down a wind farm due to its adverse effects on local bird species, imposing hefty fines in the process.

“Our mission is to ensure harmony between industry and nature,” Helseth concluded. “While we’ve made strides, we remain a small startup with much to demonstrate. Our goal is to solidify our status in the wind sector and to evolve as a global leader in addressing these pressing challenges, while also showing the wider value of our technology.”