Wind farm developer and operator SSE Renewables is trialling a new way of counting the 80,000 puffins on Scotland ’ s Isle of May using AI , machine learning , and image recognition technology .

In partnership with Microsoft and Avanade , the project aims to spot , recognise , and count puffins using technology that could help minimise disruption to birds ’ breeding and feeding habits .

Trained using an “ image recognition ” model , the AI will – when the cameras on the Isle are turned on – be able to spot the puffins , separate them from background images such as rocks , and track them , frame-by-frame , as they move around .

14 June 2023