An optics-based detection and identification system comprising cameras and one or more of the following items, namely, camera systems comprised of cameras, sensors, lenses, optical inspection apparatus, and electro-optical instruments for object tracking, identification, and measurement, computers, power supplies, electrical connections, ground enclosures to house electrical and computer components, trailers in the nature of mobile relocation trailers, mounting devices, imaging towers in the nature of stands for elevating the system above ground, lightning mitigation equipment, optical communications systems comprised of optical and electronic hardware and computer software for the transmission of object identification and position data to a distributed, central, or cloud-based data acquisition and retention system, and user interfaces for display of data, alarms, conditions in real time, and for retrieving historical data of the same nature, used to detect and identify endangered birds and to provide reports regarding same