Scientists at New Mexico Tech have unveiled something straight out of a dystopian thriller: real taxidermied birds transformed into functional drones. Using preserved pigeons, ducks, and even pheasants, researchers fitted them with flapping mechanisms, cameras hidden in their necks, and claws capable of perching—creating flying machines that mimic life with eerie precision. The official goal? Stealthier wildlife monitoring. But critics warn this “necrobotics” technology opens the door to privacy invasions, covert surveillance, and blurred lines between nature and machine. Future prototypes could even include frog or insect drones, making the skies—and perhaps your backyard—feel a little less safe. The unsettling reality is here: drones that don’t just look like birds—they used to be birds.