'Annoyed' Seagulls Are Waging War on NYC's Beach Drones
The presence of police drones on New York City beaches has caused distress among local bird species, leading to defensive behaviors and concerns for endangered populations. The NYPD's drone program faces criticism.
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The bird population in New York City is reacting strongly to the presence of police drones deployed on the beaches. The drones were intended for shark detection and aiding struggling swimmers but have caused distress among the local bird species, particularly American oystercatchers. Experts suggest that the drones may be perceived as a threat, leading the birds to exhibit defensive behaviors and potentially abandon their nests. The situation has raised concerns about the impact on endangered bird populations nesting on Rockaway beach. Despite the drones not having saved any human lives yet, they have triggered a significant response from the birds. The NYPD's drone program has faced criticism for its unintended consequences on wildlife, prompting further investigation into the matter.
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15 commentsI also don’t get why there is no enforcement, although I am guessing it comes down to mundane things like the politics of funding. I recently saw someone flying a drone at a ferry terminal. There are several signs saying that flying drones in the area is illegal per federal law (which was news to me). But it doesn’t matter when there is no one to enforce these laws - they might as well not exist. And as a private citizen, I always find it awkward to call people out on anything - whether it is a drone, or an off-leash dog, or whatever. Forget the awkwardness, some people can be aggressive. I want to be able to rely on public officers to enforce the law.
They don't go into detail, but surely a fleet of drones with life raft deployment capability is a lot more expensive than just hiring more lifeguards?
I suspect if they put the drone budget into lifeguard pay, they'd find quickly they no longer have a problem recruiting.
* Very good at soaring, expending little energy compared to ducks and other waterbirds.
* Can take off near vertically from water or land, without requiring a long runway like cormorants.
* Highly intelligent including tool use (https://susancunninghambooks.com/blog/2018/8/23/the-secret-l...)
* They will eat almost anything and will employ different techniques from hunting for live prey to opportunistic filching of dead fish and other animals' food.
* They have an enourmous range and are very adaptable. One South American species nests in a waterless desert and brings water and food from the ocean to its young, a distance of up to 100km. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc331083/)
* Lifespan of many decades
https://apnews.com/article/new-york-drones-shorebirds-beach-...
and, nominative determinism fans, don't miss "said David Bird, a professor of wildlife biology at McGill University"
> We have updated this post to reflect the fact that the birds in this story are not, in fact, seagulls. We regret the error, but also I am not an ornithologist, people.
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