Drones and birds

[Neil Fitzgerald]

Drones being flown near birds and prohibited areas is an issue that has been growing for a while now. Article here on people flying them at Muriwai and other places they shouldn't: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/405 ... s-doc-says
Hopefully publicity will help educate people.
Perhaps this thread could collate other reports.

[Ian McLean]

Thanks for posting this Neil.
On this occasion the media (Sarah Robson from Radio New Zealand) did a fantastic job in reporting this issue & the article was well researched & presented. Birds New Zealand, the Auckland Council & DOC were all interviewed & I was happy to provide comment on behalf of Birds New Zealand.
Media (mainly TV & print) often do not take any news stories about birds seriously, but Radio New Zealand are superb & a pleasure to work with.
Cheers
Ian McLean

[zarkov]

The ban on drones at Muriwai is well signposted, and anyone using one there knows they're breaking the law.

Laws need enforcement as well as education.

A few prosecutions and the drone online community would soon get the message.

[Jan]

I was one of the crew on the Endeavour recently and when it came into berth at Wellington harbour by shed 1, it went past an area where many Kelp Gulls were loafing about, near the log-loading yards, maybe. A drone was being operated to film the arrival [from the coastguard boat] and all the gulls came out to mob it vigorously.
Others in the crew mentioned that in Holland an eagle has been trained to take drones down in drone-prohibited areas. Sounds perfect but we wondered how that's possible with the blades going round. I'd like to see some more info.