Disturbance of birds by drones (1 Viewer)

JTweedie

Well-known member

• Mar 30, 2024

• #1

On a short visit to the Isle of Cumbrae today, an island that has very light vehicular traffic and is popular with walkers and cyclists on its quiet-ish roads, it provides relative peace and quiet for the birds around the shore.

But today on my way back to the ferry I heard a buzzing noise and saw a drone flying low along the shore, causing the birds to take flight. Waders are notoriously flighty birds, but this really doesn't help. Turned out it was a guy sitting in his car (with the engine idling). I don't know if he was doing it deliberately, or if, like many dog walkers, he had no idea he's causing a disturbance.

I can't say I noticed drones being used to disturb birds very often, but is it an issue elsewhere?

 

Richard D

what was that...

Supporter

• Mar 30, 2024

• #2

There's been similar issues locally over a Little Tern breeding site. I think it's ignorance rather than malice.

 

E

Elkhornsun

Well-known member

• Mar 30, 2024

• #3

Pro wildlife photographers will use drones over nesting birds but only with species that are not subject to aerial predation by gulls and other species. The drones are perceived as a potential predator in such a situation. No different then people approaching some animals that are more fearful of humans based on being hunted.

Where I live there are restrictions of drones and private aircraft flying over the marine refuge but this is not enforced by the FAA or anyone else.

 

Farnboro John

Well-known member

• Mar 31, 2024

• #4

I've stopped two drone pilots on Thursley Common NNR in the breeding season and seen each off the premises. It was a combination of ignorance and entitlement in each case, once I'd explained the relevant legislation was not the Air Navigation Order (which they knew about) but the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (of which they'd never heard) and mentioned fines and prison they were much more cooperative....

John

 

JTweedie

Well-known member

• Mar 31, 2024

• #5

I've seen footage of large raptors attacking drones too as I'm assuming they see them as a rival.

 

Mysticete

Well-known member

• Apr 1, 2024

• #6

JTweedie said:

I've seen footage of large raptors attacking drones too as I'm assuming they see them as a rival.

Click to expand...

I think they have even trained large birds of prey to specifically do this for military purposes...

 

jurek

Well-known member

• Apr 1, 2024

• #7

In Switzerland and some other countries it is prohibited to fly drones in reserves, although commonly ignored.

However, if used properly, drones are less disturbing for counting colonial breeding birds than humans in a colony.

 

tehri

Well-known member

• Apr 2, 2024

• #8

Mysticete said:

I think they have even trained large birds of prey to specifically do this for military purposes...

Click to expand...

Just here as an example, a video dating back 7 years already : ' Eagles, the Air Force's new anti-drone weapon. '
(English subtitles available)