New York City is flying drones over its beaches in an attempt to spot spot sharks before they become a threat, as well as swimmers who are struggling. While the drones could end up making the beaches safer, they’ve also upset the local bird population, leading to a series of attacks.
Flocks of birds are swarming the drones just a few months into the program, forcing the city to reconsider its plans, the Associated Press reports. Veronica Welsh, a wildlife coordinator for the Department of Parks and Recreation, told the AP the birds were “very annoyed by the drones,” saying, “They will fly at it, they’ll swoop at it, they’ll be vocalizing. They think they’re defending their chicks from a predator.”
So far, no birds have been hurt in their attempts to chase off the strange buzzing creatures on their beaches, but that doesn’t mean there haven’t been some close calls. The attacks are also mostly coming from American oystercatchers, a breed of shorebird that lays its eggs in the sand about this time of year. Their population is larger than it has been in years past, but it’s still considered a “high conservation concern,” and some wildlife experts worry about the impact the drones will have.
If you’re imagining the kinds of drones that amateurs typically use, think bigger. The drones NYC uses can be more than three feet long and carry an inflatable raft that can be dropped into the ocean to rescue a struggling swimmer. And due to their size, they’re likely much louder than you were thinking, too.
McGill University wildlife biology professor Dr. David Bird (hell yeah, nominative determinism) told the AP it’s possible the birds will get used to the drones, and this won’t be a problem in the future. However, it’s also possible that the drones’ presence will cause the birds to abandon the beach and their eggs, which we saw when a drone recently crashed in San Diego.
“We don’t know a lot about what sort of distance is required to protect the birds,” Dr. Bird told the AP. “But we do know there are birds on this beach that are highly endangered. If they abandon their nests because of the drones, that would be a disaster.”