Date of Award
2018
Publisher
North Dakota State University
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Awarded
Master of Science (MS)
Program
Environmental and Conservation Science
Department
Biological Sciences
College
Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies
Faculty Advisor
Klug, Page E.
Description
Predator-prey dynamics shaped the evolution of morphological and behavioral adaptations that foraging animals use to detect and avoid predators. Wildlife managers can potentially exploit antipredator behavior when attempting to deter animals from areas of human-wildlife conflict. A promising new tool in the field of wildlife damage management is the unmanned aircraft system (UAS; or drone), which might be able to overcome the mobility limitations of other deterrent strategies. The main objective of my study was to determine the behavioral response of blackbirds (Icteridae) to three drones, using a predator model, a standard fixed-wing, and a multirotor as candidate platforms. I evaluated the behavioral response of individual, captive red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) to the three drones approaching at direct and overhead trajectories, and I evaluated their efficacy on eliciting escape and resource-abandonment behavior in free-ranging blackbird flocks.
Recommended Citation
Egan, Conor Christopher, "Evaluating the Potential Utility of Drones to Deter Birds from Areas of Human-Wildlife Conflict" (2018). Environmental and Conservation Sciences. 34.
https://digitalcommons.ndsu.edu/env-conservation-sci/34
Rights
NDSU Policy 190.6.2
Handle Identifier
https://hdl.handle.net/10365/29171