Droning on about birds

Using a drone to study birds in Moreton Bay © Joshua Wilson

In recent years, drones have become a powerful tool for both science and conservation, allowing researchers to monitor wildlife from above with minimal disruption—at least in theory. But as drone use has exploded, so too have concerns about how these buzzing machines affect the birds they fly near.

In a new review led by Josh Wilson and published in The Journal of Wildlife Management, we explore this question in depth, drawing on evidence from nearly 200 studies involving over 300 bird species. The verdict? We're still flying a bit blind.

The team found that scientific studies on drone-induced bird disturbance are plagued by inconsistency. Researchers have used wildly different methods to study how birds respond to drones—some measure the distance at which a bird takes flight, others use vague behavioural scores, and a few skip measurement altogether. This makes it difficult for managers to set clear rules, such as how far drones should stay from locations where birds are present.

If you’re trying to write sensible regulations about drone use near birds, it’s pretty hard when every study measures disturbance in a different way.

Some species, especially large waterbirds and penguins, have been studied repeatedly, but entire groups—like parrots and perching birds common in cities—have been almost entirely overlooked. That’s worrying, given drones are often used in urban parks and backyards where those birds live.

To help solve the problem, Josh compiled the most comprehensive database to date of drone–bird studies and proposed a standard method for future research. He recommends measuring “flight initiation distance”—the moment a bird flees—as the most useful indicator of disturbance. Josh also calls for more studies in underrepresented regions like Asia, South America, and Africa.

Drones can be really useful tools for bird research and conservation. But to use them responsibly, we need good data—and right now, that means doing the science better and more consistently.

The study is published in the Journal of Wildlife Management, and was generously supported by The Moreton Bay Foundation and the Queensland Wader Study Group.