Arc Raiders Avian Alarm Project Guide – All Steps, Bird Cage Requirements, Locations & Rewards Explained (Riven Tides Update)

The Avian Alarm is a new five-stage Raider Project introduced in the Riven Tides update for Arc Raiders. In this event, players help build a makeshift bird-based alarm system along the Riven Tides coastline. The project is literally framed as constructing a “security system out of bird cages” to detect tremors and atmospheric changes. To progress, you deploy special bird cages at designated buoys and collect various resources. Completing each stage awards Raider Tokens and unique gear/cosmetics, with a total of 250 Raider Tokens available. In short, the Avian Alarm project tasks you with deploying traps at buoys and gathering specific items across Riven Tides to unlock all rewards.

How to Start the Avian Alarm Project in Arc Raiders

Once the Riven Tides update is active, the Avian Alarm project will appear in your Raider Projects list. Open the project board or menu in-game and select the Avian Alarm project entry to see the current stage and objectives. Initially, Stage 1 (Initial Flock Intake) will be active. To start, simply head into a Riven Tides raid – the project will track automatically. The first task is a unique in-game action (laying a bird trap at a buoy) rather than submitting materials, so be prepared to follow on-screen prompts when near the coast.

All 5 Stages of the Avian Alarm Project Explained

The Avian Alarm project is broken into five linear stages. Players must complete Stage 1 to unlock Stage 2, and so on. A quick summary of each stage:

• Stage 1 – Initial Flock Intake: Deploy a bird trap at the Seabed buoy (no materials needed).
• Stage 2 – Preliminary Signal Birds: Submit common items – Tick Pods (×7), Canisters (×20), Moss (×12) and Twilight Compass ship models (×5).
• Stage 3 – Secondary Validation Birds: Submit mid-tier drops – Comet Igniters (×3), Fertilizer (×10), Rusted Tools (×10) and Velocity ship models (×5).
• Stage 4 – Heightened Alert Birds: Submit rarer items – Vaporizer Regulators (×1), Water Filters (×3), Agave (×8) and Sirena Dorata ship models (×5).
• Stage 5 – Critical Warning Birds: Submit top-tier parts – Turbine Compressors (×2), Red Coral Jewelry (×3), Roots (×4) and a Leviathan’s Crown ship model (×1).

Each stage must be completed in order. Finishing a stage immediately unlocks the next one in your project menu. Below we cover each stage in detail.

Initial Flock Intake Stage – Bird Trap Location and How to Complete It

The Initial Flock Intake stage is unlike other stages – it requires no resource donations. Instead, you must deploy a bird trap at a specific buoy. Head to the Seabed area of Riven Tides (northeast of the Port Authority building) and look for the large orange buoy on the shoreline. Approach the buoy and trigger the interaction prompt to place the bird trap. This action completes Stage 1. (One common mistake is not clicking the project’s “Complete” button after placing the trap; be sure to confirm the objective in the Raider Projects menu once you deploy the trap.) As soon as the trap is laid and the stage is marked complete, Stage 2 will unlock.

Above: Deploy a bird trap next to the orange buoy in the Seabed region to complete Stage 1 (Initial Flock Intake). The buoy is marked by a holographic prompt; activate it to place the trap.

Preliminary Signal Birds Stage – Full Item Requirements List

Preliminary Signal Birds (Stage 2) requires turning in the following items (all found on Riven Tides):

• 7 × Tick Pods – Dropped by Tiny “Tick” enemies; farm robots that crawl on surfaces.
• 20 × Canister – Uncommon crafting material found in Commercial zones (e.g. shops in Buried City).
• 12 × Moss – Rare nature material found in green/natural zones (e.g. the Hydroponic Dome in Dam Battlegrounds).
• 5 × Twilight Compass Ship Model – Rare trinkets (ship models) scattered across Riven Tides; commonly found via buried treasure or Beachcombing.

Submit all of the above at the project terminal in Speranza. Once they’re handed in, you’ll complete Stage 2 and unlock Stage 3. (Rewards for Stage 2 include a Heavy Gun Parts blueprint, 3 Surge Coils, and 25 Raider Tokens.)

Secondary Validation Birds Stage – Required ARC Drops and Materials

The Secondary Validation Birds (Stage 3) requires these items:

• 3 × Comet Igniters – Dropped by Comet enemies (exploding orb robots) before they self-destruct.
• 10 × Fertilizer – Uncommon nature resource found in green zones (again, the Dam’s Hydroponic Dome is a good spot).
• 10 × Rusted Tools – Rare mechanical component found in industrial/mechanical zones (e.g. scrap yards, water treatment plants).
• 5 × Velocity Ship Model – Rare ship model trinkets (find via beachcombing or surface spawns).

After collecting these, turn them in at the project terminal. Completing Stage 3 grants an Anvil 4 weapon and splitter plus 50 Raider Tokens.

Heightened Alert Birds Stage – Best Farming Locations for Items

For the Heightened Alert Birds (Stage 4), you need:

• 1 × Vaporizer Regulator – Drops from the new Vaporizer drones on Riven Tides. These large flying enemies appear under the Close Scrutiny map condition or are found near the Riven city hotel.
• 3 × Water Filter – Rare industrial resource found in factory-like zones (Dam battlegrounds’ Hydroponic Dome, Scrap Yard, Water Treatment, etc.).
• 8 × Agave – Uncommon nature plant component. Found on agave plants (e.g. around Dam’s pale apartments) or in baskets during the Lush Blooms weather on Buried City.
• 5 × Sirena Dorata Ship Model – Epic ship model trinkets (from buried treasure, beachcombing, or world spawns on Riven Tides).

The most efficient farming is to kill Vaporizers whenever you see them (especially in Close Scrutiny) for the regulator, and scavenge Industrial or Nature zones for filters and agave. Beachcomb frequently for Sirena Dorata models. Completing Stage 4 rewards the Gel Patches face cosmetic, Hotel Keycard #311, and 50 Raider Tokens.

Critical Warning Birds Stage – Final Bird Cage Submission Guide

The Critical Warning Birds (Stage 5) is the final submission. You must gather:

• 2 × Turbine Compressor – Drops from the new ARC Turbine boss (the floating orange drone unique to Riven Tides). Hunt and kill Turbines during raids to get these.
• 3 × Red Coral Jewelry – Rare trinkets found in Residential/Commercial zones (also in chimneys during Buried City’s Bird City condition or buried treasure).
• 4 × Roots – Uncommon nature item found in wicker plant baskets during Lush Blooms events or scattered in Nature areas.
• 1 × Leviathan’s Crown Ship Model – A legendary ship model trinket (obtain via Beachcombing or rare spawns on Riven Tides).

After collecting these rarer materials, submit them at the project terminal in Speranza to complete the Avian Alarm project. Stage 5 rewards include the Bird House backpack attachment, “Fist In Air” emote, an Acoustic Guitar, and 100 Raider Tokens.

Important: Make sure you have the correct ship model for this stage – it is the Leviathan’s Crown (not a duplicate Sirena Dorata). Once submitted, you’ll have unlocked all project rewards.

Arc Raiders Bird Cage System Explained – How It Works in the Project

The “bird cage system” is essentially the core mechanic of Avian Alarm: deploying cages at buoys along the shore. As described by community guides, the project turns the Riven coastline into an early-warning network of bird alarms. Each stage highlights certain buoys with a special icon or objective marker. When you swim or walk up to a highlighted buoy, you can interact and deploy/activate the bird cage there. Doing so releases a flock of seagulls or triggers a bird-related visual, which the game recognizes as completing that buoy’s objective for the current stage.

In practice, you’ll loop through Riven raids, moving to the marked buoys along docks, jetties and cliff edges. The project is linear: you only need to trigger the buoys called for in order, and you do not have to visit all buoys at once. Each time you place a cage and birds appear, you’ll see an on-screen message confirming your progress. This mechanic is purely environmental – you’re not placing physical cages in a base – but it counts toward project completion. In short, the Avian Alarm uses buoy locations and bird flock triggers as its objective cues.

Above: The Avian Alarm project envisions buoys and bird cages along the shore. Each stage’s objective is triggered by interacting with a buoy (as shown) to release birds and “sound the alarm”.

All Rewards in the Avian Alarm Project (Raider Tokens, Gear & Cosmetics)

Completing each stage of the Avian Alarm yields tokens and unique items. The rewards are:

• Stage 1: Dockmaster’s Detector (a new tool) and 25 Raider Tokens.
• Stage 2: Heavy Gun Parts blueprint, 3 Surge Coils, and 25 Raider Tokens.
• Stage 3: An Anvil 4 weapon and an Anvil Splitter, plus 50 Raider Tokens.
• Stage 4: Gel Patches (face cosmetic), Riven Tides Hotel Keycard #311, and 50 Raider Tokens.
• Stage 5: Bird House backpack attachment, “Fist In Air” emote, an Acoustic Guitar, and 100 Raider Tokens.

In total, all five stages award 250 Raider Tokens (25+25+50+50+100) along with the gear above. Notably, the Stage 1 reward Dockmaster’s Detector permanently unlocks the Beachcombing mechanic for your account, and the cosmetics (Gel Patches, Bird House, emote) are exclusive to this project.

Best Farming Routes for Avian Alarm Project Materials in Riven Tides

Efficient farming in Riven Tides is key. Use the following routes/zones to collect each needed material:

• Ticks and Tick Pods: Small Tick enemies spawn in water-adjacent areas and city ruins. Clear the docks and canals in Riven Tides to collect Pod drops.
• Commercial/Residential Loot (Canisters, Red Coral Jewelry): Run through the Buried City commercial districts and old town zones to pick up Canisters and the Red Coral trinkets. Chimneys and rooftops in Buried City’s Bird City condition also yield Red Coral Jewelry.
• Nature Zones (Moss, Fertilizer, Agave, Roots): Hit the green areas of the Dam Battlegrounds (Hydroponic Dome, floodplains) for Moss and Fertilizer. Agave plants grow around pale residential blocks. Roots are mainly in wicker baskets during the Lush Blooms weather on Buried City.
• Industrial/Mechanical Zones (Water Filters, Rusted Tools): Search the Dam’s industrial facilities (Scrap Yard, Water Treatment, Primary Facility) for Water Filters and Rusted Tools. These zones have crates and plant life that spawn those parts.
• Vaporizers (Vaporizer Regulator): Farmers should seek out and kill Vaporizers on Riven. These flying drones often patrol near the beach hotel or during the Close Scrutiny map condition.
• ARC Turbine (Turbine Compressors): Whenever the ARC Turbine boss appears (a high-flying enemy), focus fire on it. It drops the required Turbine Compressors.
• Ship Model Trinkets: Twilight Compass, Velocity, Sirena Dorata, and Leviathan’s Crown models are best obtained through the new Beachcombing mechanic. Equip the Dockmaster’s Detector and sweep open beach areas: buried treasure chests often contain these ship models. Keep an eye out for any Ship Model spawn on the surface as well.

By looping through Riven Tides runs and targeting these zones, you can cover multiple item needs per run. For example, combining a route through the Dam Battlegrounds and Buried City can net Moss, Fertilizer, Tools, and Red Coral in one go. Always deposit excess items in your stash between runs to make space for rarer drops.

How to Get Ship Models for Avian Alarm Project Fast

All five stages require ship model trinkets. The fastest way to collect them is via the Beachcombing map condition. Unlock the Dockmaster’s Detector early (Stage 1 reward) and use it on any Riven Tides beach. The detector will reveal buried cache locations that often contain ship models. Beachcombing yields the specific models needed (Twilight Compass, Velocity, Sirena Dorata, Leviathan’s Crown) much more quickly than random enemy drops. In general, do a quick detector sweep each raid, especially in low-aggression queues, and loot any shiny models you find. This tip comes straight from guides recommending Beachcombing as the best source for these rare trinkets.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in the Avian Alarm Project Grind

Several pitfalls can slow you down:

• Forgetting to “Complete” Stage 1: After laying the bird trap at the buoy, you must manually hit the Complete button in the project UI. Many players report that Stage 1 won’t progress if you neglect this step. Always confirm the objective after deploying the trap.
• Inventory Overload: With so many items to gather, it’s easy to run out of space. Avoid this by consistently moving common items (like Moss, Tools, etc.) into your home stash between runs. That way you can free up space to pick up rarer Stage 4/5 items later.
• Ignoring Beachcombing: Ship Models are rare drops if just looted normally. Don’t delay using the Beachcombing detector – collect those models early rather than waiting until the end.
• Mixing Up Ship Models: Double-check which model each stage needs. For example, Stage 5 requires the Leviathan’s Crown model (an epic item) – not the more common Sirena Dorata. Dropping the wrong model will waste time.
• Rushing Each Run: It helps to think of this as a long-term checklist rather than one huge mission. Complete Stage 1 quickly, then gradually farm materials across many Riven Tides runs. Trying to do everything in one extraction is unnecessary and exhausting.

By avoiding these errors, you’ll progress more smoothly through the Avian Alarm project.

Is the Avian Alarm Project Time-Limited? Deadline and Event Info

Yes – the Avian Alarm project is time-limited. According to official update notes, players have until May 26, 2026 (shortly after launch) to finish all stages. After that date, the project will end. Any stages not completed by the deadline will lock off the remaining rewards. There is no ongoing rotation: this is a one-month event tied to Riven Tides’ release. So prioritize completing all five stages by May 26, 2026.

Tips to Complete Arc Raiders Avian Alarm Project Faster and Efficiently

• Do Stage 1 Immediately: In your first Riven run, head straight to the Seabed buoy and lay the trap. Stage 1 is quick and gives you the Beachcombing tool – do it early to avoid forgetting.
• Combine Objectives: Instead of farming each stage in isolation, multitask. When roaming Riven Tides, kill any Vaporizers, Comets, Ticks or the ARC Turbine you encounter; each may drop needed items (Vaporizer Regulator, Comet Igniter, Tick Pods, Turbine Compressor) simultaneously.
• Use Beachcombing Every Run: Even if you only have one Detector equipped, sweep the sands each game. Ship models are most often found in buried loot. Collecting them a bit at a time prevents a last-minute scramble.
• Balance Combat and Scavenging: Stage 2 and 3 items (Moss, Canisters, Moss, Rusted Tools, etc.) can be gathered while you explore and fight normally. Breaking a headless clock: loot every crate and basket, and kill every ARC if you see one.
• Stash Progress: After each match, bring home all progress by turning in items. There is no penalty for multiple turn-ins – you can submit Stage 2 items early if you have them before moving on to Stage 3. This keeps your inventory clear.
• Stay on Map-Specific Loot Conditions: Pay attention to map conditions. For example, play during Close Scrutiny to see more Vaporizers, or Lush Blooms to spawn Roots in baskets. Align your runs with conditions that boost material spawns.

Overall, think of Avian Alarm as a long-haul grind and chip away steadily. Follow the project log’s guidance each run, and you’ll have all stages complete well before the event expires.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What exactly is the Avian Alarm project?
   It’s a new five-stage community project in Arc Raiders’ Riven Tides update. You build a bird-based alarm system by placing traps at buoys and donating various resources to protect Speranza from tremors and atmospheric events.
2. How do I start the Avian Alarm project?
   After installing the Riven Tides update, open your Raider Projects menu (or mission board) and select Avian Alarm. The first objective (Initial Flock Intake) will be shown, and you simply follow its instructions to begin.
3. Where do I find the buoy to place the bird trap in Stage 1?
   The buoy is located in the Seabed region of Riven Tides, northeast of the Port Authority. Look for a large orange buoy on the beach – approach it to trigger the trap deployment.
4. Do I need to extract after completing Stage 1?
   No. Stage 1 requires only placing the trap. Once you place it and hit “Complete” in the project UI, the stage is done. You can complete the match or even die – the project counts it. Just be sure to confirm the objective in Speranza.
5. Can I finish all stages in one raid?
   Not in a single raid, since each stage has a separate objective or turn-in. Stages 2–5 require collecting many items that you likely won’t have immediately. Plan to complete Stage 1 early and then gather materials for later stages across multiple runs.
6. What are Ship Model trinkets and why do I need them?
   Ship Models are collectible trinkets on Riven Tides (like miniatures of ships). They’re required for Stages 2–5 (Twilight Compass, Velocity, Sirena Dorata, Leviathan’s Crown). The fastest way to get them is via Beachcombing with the Dockmaster’s Detector.
7. Are the project rewards shared with my team?
   No. Avian Alarm is an individual project. Each player must collect and submit their own resources. The rewards (tokens, cosmetics, tools) are given per player, not by the team.
8. Is the Dockmaster’s Detector only usable during this project?
   No. Once you earn the Detector from Stage 1, it permanently unlocks Beachcombing on Riven Tides. You can keep using it for buried treasure even after finishing the project.
9. Can I get the Leviathan’s Crown model anywhere?
   Leviathan’s Crown is very rare. It can appear as buried beach loot (best acquired via Beachcombing) or sometimes in random world spawns. It’s not tied to a specific enemy. Unlike other stages, Stage 5 specifically needs Leviathan’s Crown (not the Sirena Dorata).
10. What happens if I miss the May 26 deadline?
    Any stage not completed by the deadline will remain incomplete and you will miss its rewards. The Avian Alarm project ends on May 26, 2026, so plan your farming accordingly.

Conclusion

The Avian Alarm project offers a unique, narrative-driven challenge in Arc Raiders: you’re literally building a coast-wide bird alarm. By methodically placing traps at buoys and donating the required items, you’ll unlock 250 Raider Tokens and exclusive rewards (Detector, cosmetics, gear). Remember to complete Stage 1 early, collect and stash materials across multiple runs, and use Beachcombing to hunt the needed ship models. Plan your routes to gather items efficiently (see the farming routes above) and double-check objectives each match. With steady effort before the May 26 deadline, you can earn all stages’ rewards. Good luck, Raiders – earn your Dockmaster’s Detector and don’t miss the birds on the beach!

Sources and Citations

1. Arc Raiders official Riven Tides / Avian Alarm update
   https://arcraiders.com/news/riven-tides
2. PC Gamer — How to complete Avian Alarm
   https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/arc-raiders-avian-alarm-project/
3. GamesRadar — Avian Alarm walkthrough
   https://www.gamesradar.com/games/third-person-shooter/arc-raiders-avian-alarm/
4. Adventure Gamers — All Avian Alarm materials
   https://adventuregamers.com/news/arc-raiders-avian-alarm-project-materials-stages
5. Nerdschalk — How to Complete Avian Alarm Raider Project
   https://nerdschalk.com/arc-raiders-how-to-complete-avian-alarm-raider-project-on-riven-tides-project-stages-buoy-locations-and-rewards/
6. Arc Raiders Hub — Avian Alarm Project guide
   https://arcraidershub.com/guides/avian-alarm-project-guide
7. Arc Raiders Hub — Riven Tides update
   https://arcraidershub.com/blog/riven-tides-update
8. Reddit r/ArcRaiders — Avian Alarm first quest bugged/community tips
   https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1syrk41/avian_alarm_first_quest_bugged/
9. Reddit r/ArcRaiders — Embark Riven Tides update repost
   https://www.reddit.com/r/ArcRaiders/comments/1sx7xv8/embark_riven_tides_update_reclaim_the_coast/
10. Epic Games Store — Riven Tides update overview
    https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/blog/arc-raiders-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-riven-tides-update

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