Approaching birds with drones: first experiments and ethical guidelines

Area of Science:

• Wildlife ecology
• Conservation technology
• Behavioral ecology

Background:

• Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, are increasingly utilized in ecological research for wildlife observation.
• There is a need for impact studies to establish best practices for drone use in wildlife research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of drone characteristics (color, speed, flight angle) on bird behavior.
• To provide recommendations for minimizing drone disturbance to wildlife during research.

Main Methods:

• Conducted 204 approach flights using a quadricopter drone.
• Observed behavioral responses of mallards (semi-captive) and wild flamingos and common greenshanks.
• Tested effects of drone color, speed, and vertical vs. horizontal approach angles.

Main Results:

• Drones could approach within 4 meters of birds in 80% of flights without apparent disturbance.
• Drone color, approach speed, and repeated flights did not significantly affect bird behavior.
• Birds exhibited greater reactivity to drones approaching vertically.

Conclusions:

• Launching drones from over 100 meters and adjusting approach distances based on species can minimize disturbance.
• This study provides foundational insights for the responsible use of drones in wildlife research.
• Further research should investigate drone impacts on diverse taxa and monitor physiological stress indicators.