Title:

Data for analysis of blackbird flock responses toward a spraying drone in an agroecosystem: Importance of flock size, habitat, and time of day

Author(s):

White, Mallory G.; Duttenhefner, Jessica L.; Klug, Page E.

Publication Year:

2025

How to Cite:

These data were collected using funding from the U.S. Government and can be used without additional permissions or fees. If you use these data in a publication, presentation, or other research product please use the following citation:

White, Mallory G.; Duttenhefner, Jessica L.; Klug, Page E. 2025. Data for analysis of blackbird flock responses toward a spraying drone in an agroecosystem: Importance of flock size, habitat, and time of day. Research Dataset Series. USDA, APHIS, WS National Wildlife Research Center. Ft. Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.2737/NWRC-RDS-2024-006

Abstract:

We evaluated flock responses to a drone capable of spraying when first approached and with 10 minutes of hazing to inform protocols for delivering repellents on agricultural landscapes. We used eye-in-the-sky drones to video the drone with spraying capabilities and capture if flocks took flight within 80 meters (i.e., range of potential spray drift). We measured flight initiation distance (FID) when close approach occurred (i.e., drone ≤80 meters from flock). While hazing, we piloted the drone to 1) repeatedly cut through a flock and create chaos or 2) move along the flock edge to herd birds out of target habitat (i.e., sunflower or cattail). We recorded abandonment, flock reduction, and return rate of birds in response to drone hazing. This study was implemented between September 2019 through October 2020 in multiple counties in North Dakota, USA where blackbird damage to sunflowers is prevalent. This data publication contains the data and R code used to analyze these data.

Keywords:

biota; Ecology, Ecosystems, & Environment; Wildlife (or Fauna); Birds; antipredator behavior; crop damage; deterrent; human-wildlife conflict; unmanned aerial vehicle; UAV; unoccupied aircraft system; UAS; vertebrate pests; visual deterrent; North Dakota

Related publications:

• White, Mallory G.; Duttenhefner, Jessica L.; Klug, Page E. 2025. Establishing protocols to apply repellents while hazing crop pests: importance of habitat, flock size, and time on blackbird (Icteridae) responses to a drone capable of spraying. Wildlife Research. 52(3): WR24066. https://doi.org/10.1071/WR24066

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