Drone designers, especially those in the field of conservation, have long been fascinated with the movement of birds.  Birds are, in a sense, “natural” drones.  Their keen long-distance sight and deft maneuverability allows them to zero in on prey and to escape obstacles and collisions – and they can hover and perch to conserve their natural energy between flights, just as drones must pause and rest to recharge their batteries.

But birds are not drones – and they rarely welcome an intrusion by one.  So discovered a private drone flier last week when he tried to maneuver his drone close to a turkey mother in the brush who was guarding her progeny.  The mother spotted the drone’s low-altitude approach and pre-emptively charged the aircraft, knocking it to the ground.  The startled drone flier filmed the encounter, which left his drone disabled.  It was an important lesson.  If you insist on tracking wildlife, including birds, learn to respect their natural boundaries, especially if their young are near.

The potential perils of drones flying near wildlife, especially birds, were illustrated in a far more tragic way at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Preserve in southern California last year.  A drone hobbyist, who has never been identified, flew a small UAV into an area where several thousand endangered Elegant Terns were nestling with their still unborn young.  The birds have a natural fight-or-flight response to intruders – just as the turkey that attacked last week did – and in this case the birds chose flight, leaving their vulnerable eggs behind.  Without their mothers, all of the young birds soon perished.  It was a devastating blow to the sanctuary and its important work.

Many states have strict rules in place that govern drones flying near their refuges and parks.  As a rule, drone flying is prohibited, but special permission may be granted for research and movie filming purposes.  Federal regulations also prohibit drones flying in wildlife refuges though some federal parks do permit drone flying, either within the park or overhead.  Even so, drone fliers are supposed to observe basic rules about flying near wildlife.  Many fliers don’t know the rules, and need to learn them, but in some unfortunate cases, they simply flout them.

The impulse to film an otherwise unapproachable wild animal up close is certainly understandable but fliers need to consider how their intrusion might disturb the creature and the safety and peace of its habitat.  Posting a video of your encounter on your social Facebook page may win you a few “likes” but your irresponsible feat probably won’t impress anyone genuinely concerned about protecting vulnerable wildlife.  And if your intrusion is reported, you may end up getting fined.  (It’s rare, but it’s happened).

There are many possible solutions here.  The most obvious one is to employ a high-powered zoom camera that can allow you to film at a respectful distance without the animals becoming aware of your presence.  There is simply no need for you to approach the animal directly with your aerial vehicle.   Hovering several meters above the animal — in theory, out of harm’s way –  isn’t advisable, either.  Even at a distance, drone propellers without special cuffs can be noisy and disturbing and their unfamiliar presence can be intimidating.  On farms, horses startled by the mere sight and sound of a drone have sometimes bolted from their stables or broken free from their tethers causing injury to themselves and damaging farm buildings and equipment.  Some sensitive marine animals have also found unwanted drone intrusions so disturbing they have engaged in self-destructive counter-measures. For drone hobbyists seeking to wow themselves and their friends, the best solution is to stick to scenic photography and to the dazzling landscapes and vistas that drones can impressively record.

In the wake of the Bolsa Chica incident, sanctuary authorities installed new signage that warns sanctuary visitors about excessive noise and other possible disturbances, including drone flying.  And fines for violating those rules are stiffer now, too.   But the incident has highlighted the need for more public education about where drones are permitted to fly and under what conditions. A special state advisory group is studying the matter and is expected to issue a report later this year.

Responsible drone flying can be a real boom to conservation.  Scientists the world over are deploying drones of all kinds to study animal mating and migration patterns to better protect vulnerable species and their habitats.  Moose, elk, kangaroos, turtles, seals, whales and even sharks are currently objects of study.  The results – obtained far more cheaply and sustainably with drones than by piloted boats and helicopters – are amazing.  Drones aren’t a threat to animals as long as the humans that deploy them consider animal needs first, and resist the temptation to impose themselves on Nature, for a cheap thrill, just because they can.