Page 8 - Best Of Local Mag August 2023 Edition

Drones are disturbing critically

endangered shorebirds in Moreton

Bay, creating a domino effect

Drones are increasingly swarming our a major role in shorebird decline so far, Drones can be beneficial in many ways,
skies, capturing images, managing crops our results, combined with the increasing but we must identify when and how
and soon, delivering packages. But what presence of drones along our coastline, drones can be used to minimise potential
do the birds make of this invasion of indicate they could become yet another harm. In some locations, such as some
their territory? source of disturbance for these birds, Australian national parks, drone use
many of which are already endangered. is already prohibited or restricted. But
With strict animal ethics approval, we managers need to understand how
flew drones towards flocks of birds in Use with care drones affect wildlife to inform these
Queensland’s Moreton Bay. We found regulations.
many species were not disturbed, At the same time, drones have proven
provided the drone was small and flew to be a valuable tool. They’ve been Our findings provide clear-cut parameters
above 60m. used to plant trees, deliver healthcare around how much space to give birds to
in developing countries, and have even keep drone disturbance to a minimum. In
The exception was the critically proven useful for bird conservation. most cases this is about 60m, but it can
endangered eastern curlew, which vary significantly between species. For
became alarmed and flew away – even Drones can observe birds in places that the eastern curlew, we don’t recommend
when a tiny drone approached at the are hard to reach on foot, such as birds approaches within 250m, even with small
maximum legal altitude of 120m. But of prey nesting in tree tops, or seabirds drones.
when the eastern curlew took flight, feeding on tidal inlets. In some cases, they
other nearby species were often startled, can even be more accurate compared to The Moreton Bay Marine Park, where this
creating a domino effect that eventually traditional ground-based survey methods. research was undertaken, is the single
caused the whole flock to take flight. most important site in Australia for the
Shorebirds spread out across vast mudflats eastern curlew. Disturbing shorebirds
Drone disturbance can interrupt birds to feed, making it very difficult to survey within the marine park is an offence that
as they rest or feed. It can even cause them on foot and identify critical foraging can result in fines. The Queensland Parks
them to avoid some locations altogether. habitats. Our research has shown that, for and Wildlife Service has already used our
If birds are consistently interrupted or certain species, drones may overcome findings to place conditions on research
scared away from their preferred habitats, this barrier, providing information that projects and media activities involving
they may find it difficult to eat and rest may be pivotal in arresting shorebird drones.
enough to survive and reproduce. This is population declines.
particularly concerning for species such
as the eastern curlew, which migrate
thousands of kilometres to breed.

Yet another threat to shorebirds

We studied a diverse group of birds
typically found along coastlines, known
as shorebirds. Heartbreakingly, their
global population has plummeted as they
continue to battle habitat destruction, sea
level rise, disturbance and hunting.

The last few decades have been bleak for
the eastern curlew, which is the world’s
largest migratory shorebird. Research in
2011 indicated a population decline of
80% over three generations.

While drones are unlikely to have played