Drones to revolutionize bird counting: Precision and less disturbance to nature

This post is also available in: Danish

A new report from DCE – Danish Centre for Environment and Energy at Aarhus University points to drones as a game changer in bird monitoring and counting. The small, unmanned aerial vehicles have the potential to solve several of the problems that plague traditional counting methods.

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Bird counting is a key activity for assessing population status and trends, but current methods have several challenges. When humans observe birds with binoculars or telescopes, inaccuracies can easily occur, especially if birds are gathered in large numbers or in hard-to-reach areas. Birds hiding behind each other or species that are particularly sensitive to human presence make it difficult to get an accurate overview.

According to the report, drones can significantly improve counting accuracy, especially in bird colonies and areas that are otherwise difficult to reach. The small aircraft can capture images of large areas from the air, making it possible to record the number and distribution of birds with great accuracy. This method is particularly useful for colony-nesting species such as wood storks and gulls, which are often disturbed by human observers.

Drones are not unproblematic

The report highlights that drones have proven particularly effective in the Wadden Sea and along the East Atlantic migration route, where several species are already successfully monitored. Here, species such as cormorants and terns have been subject to accurate counts, without the disturbances that usually accompany human observations.

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However, drones are not without their challenges. Certain shorebird species are particularly sensitive to drones, and further research is required to minimize potential disturbance. But when combined with technologies like automated image analysis that can identify species quickly and accurately, drones have the potential to revolutionize bird monitoring.

While there is still a need to develop standardized methods and protocols, there are strong indications that drones will be a key part of bird monitoring in the future – with less disturbance and far greater precision.