Drones and Bird Photography; ” A Big No No”

Contrary to expectations, current drone technology places photographers farther away from their subjects while introducing unpredictable risks to birds and other wildlife. The inconspicuous and autonomous nature of drones is overshadowed by their noise, conspicuousness, and unfamiliarity to most animals, especially wild birds. Inaccessible wild animals, living close to human settlements, may find drones even more alarming than human presence, resembling threatening predators. This is particularly true for wild birds that perceive drones as potential threats, making it unethical to fly them over nesting sites for photography.

In the pursuit of wildlife management, a researcher shares insights from a five-year study monitoring Osprey nests in coastal New Jersey using drones. The study aimed to disturb Osprey families for their benefit, and while it established that drones can disturb wildlife, the degree of disturbance becomes a crucial factor. Comparing the disturbance caused by a drone at varying distances, it was suggested that the minimum safe distance for drones was 200 feet, with increased alertness at 150 feet and noticeable disturbance below 120 feet. These distances are considerably farther than many assume, especially when compared to the proximity that avian photographers often maintain on foot, working safely with subjects at distances less than 100 feet.

A critical misconception arises from the belief that drones offer an advantage in terms of reach and stealth. In reality, drones, although small, are neither invisible nor silent, providing almost no advantage over on-foot photography. Moreover, the popular assumption that drones equipped with specialized cameras, usually wide-angled sports-action cameras like GoPro, can enhance wildlife photography is debunked. These cameras, designed for capturing sweeping landscapes and excelling at ultra-close ranges, are ill-suited for photographing wild birds at safe distances. Even at 120 feet, it remains challenging to discern the presence of eggs or chicks in a nest using such cameras.

The shortcomings of drones in avian photography become evident when photographers find themselves struggling to locate tiny animals through ultra-wide-angle views. To compensate for this limitation, photographers may unknowingly get dangerously close to their subjects, risking harm to the wildlife they intended to capture. The disillusionment sets in as photographers discover that drone photography, while a magnificent art form in various contexts, has little value in avian photography, except for extreme aerial distance shots with ultra-wide-angle lenses.

As technology continues to advance, there is hope for ethical wildlife photography through the evolution of camera technology. The prospect of a new generation of super telephoto lenses or ultra-high resolution sensors holds promise for achieving high-quality shots at greater distances or tighter crops. However, the current state of drone technology, as it stands, does not align with the needs of wildlife photographers. In conclusion, while drone photography may be captivating and innovative, it proves to be an inadequate and potentially harmful tool for avian photography, failing to provide the technological step forward that the field requires.