Start Date
2019
Description
- Movement and anthropogenic noise can cause physiologic stress in animals. Unmanned aerial vehicles, such as drones, are becoming widespread in society, and in biological field research. As drones become more commonplace, they are invading the same airspace as birds.
- There is little information on how drones affect wildlife, specifically birds, and if they cause any physiological response or stress. This study sought to answer these questions by flying a drone over the nest boxes of tree swallows (TRES; Tachycineta bicolor). Stress levels will be measured by comparing corticosterone (CORT) levels and telomere lengths from before and after birds received either the drone or control treatments.
Recommended Citation
Scholten, Bradley D.; Olen, Abigail R.; Caulfield, Margaret E.; and Proppe, Darren S., "Unmanned aerial vehicles do not affect tree swallow stress levels" (2019). Summer Research. 20.
https://digitalcommons.calvin.edu/summer_research/2019/Posters/20
COinS
Jan 1st, 12:00 AM
Unmanned aerial vehicles do not affect tree swallow stress levels
- Movement and anthropogenic noise can cause physiologic stress in animals. Unmanned aerial vehicles, such as drones, are becoming widespread in society, and in biological field research. As drones become more commonplace, they are invading the same airspace as birds.
- There is little information on how drones affect wildlife, specifically birds, and if they cause any physiological response or stress. This study sought to answer these questions by flying a drone over the nest boxes of tree swallows (TRES; Tachycineta bicolor). Stress levels will be measured by comparing corticosterone (CORT) levels and telomere lengths from before and after birds received either the drone or control treatments.