Birds in the SC Paderborn stadium are causing serious damage to the infrastructure. New sound technology aims to effectively deter unwelcome visitors. How does it work and have the birds given up?

The problem of damage caused by birds

The SC Paderborn stadium has been dealing with a significant bird problem for months. Stadium staff, fans, and players alike are thoroughly frustrated with the situation. The birds are causing substantial damage to the turf and electrical installations, and they're creating a mess in the corridors, making it nearly impossible to enjoy a pleasant experience at the stadium.

The sports betting platform WettscheinPlus confirmed that it's not just the stadium staff who are annoyed. Bookmakers and fans betting on the 2. Bundesliga from home are also affected. While natural conditions have always added some unpredictability to the games, unless a bookmaker starts offering odds on Match suspended due to a bird attack, no one is going to be pleased with the current scenario.

SC Paderborn has previously attempted to resolve the issue, but nothing has worked so far. In a bid to find a lasting solution, they have recently introduced a new system called Aves Stadium. This cutting-edge technology represents the first of its kind to be implemented in Germany. The system features a small camera equipped with an infrared sensor, mounted on a tall frame. When the device detects an incoming bird, it quickly emits an audible signal aimed at startling the bird, causing it to fly away and not return.

© Dreher Grounds

The Aves Stadium system has a database of around three million images of different bird species. As a result, it is able to recognise individual species and adjust the corresponding sound signal. The device generates a variety of sounds, including both synthetic sounds and imitations of the voices of birds of prey.

Stadium staff have nicknamed the device ET and are hopeful that the new technology will allow them to effectively protect the stadium from birds. The system's sound signals are unpleasant for birds and have a range of up to 800 metres, making the Aves Stadium an effective tool for deterring unwanted visitors.

Two identical stadiums

The need to build a new stadium in Paderborn became apparent in 2001, when the local club received a conditional licence to play at their previous stadium. There were two inauguration games. One unofficial – Paderborner SC vs Galatasaray (July 16, 2008) and another official on July 20, against Borussia Dortmund. First official international clash was the Germany U21 tie with Belarus in 2009. Due to extremely low costs and easy construction, Bremer AG used the same design on another stadium that was opened in 2011 in Polish Gliwice.

© Dreher Grounds