The automated birdwatcher stands in a US wildlife reserve in Arkansas, scanning the skies for a glimpse of the elusive ivory-billed woodpecker.

The bird was once thought to be extinct, but potential sightings in the area in 2004 renewed the search.

The system uses two video cameras to capture continuous images of the sky that are scrutinised for evidence of bird life by sophisticated software.

Any shot that it does not believe contains a bird is discarded.