New York Metropolis’s seaside birds seem like getting fully fed up with the current deployment of a fleet of police drones encroaching on their territory. An Related Press report described a number of “swarming” incidents wherein offended shorebirds dive-bombed flying robots in an try and drive them from their houses.
Earlier this 12 months, the New York Police Division made the questionable resolution to start deploying drones on the town’s seashores. The aim is to permit them to seek for sharks (to warn beachgoers and keep away from being attacked by sharks) jawsorts of conditions) and may assist swimmers who could also be in bother and who’re out of attain of native lifeguards. Apparently the plan is for the robotic to fly over drowning swimmers and place flotation gadgets on their heads.
Whereas the drones have saved zero lives to this point, they’ve critically angered the native seagull inhabitants, who’ve been seen “swarming” and dive-bombing the flying robots on a number of events. The Related Press quoted a number of wildlife students and professionals saying most of them appeared to consider drones had some form of hostile influence on seaside birds. Consultants say birds could view robots as invasive species, posing a risk to their offspring.
Veronica Welsh, a wildlife skilled with the town’s parks division, advised the outlet the birds had been “very aggravated with the drones.” “They’re going to fly at it, they will swoop at it, they will make noises … They suppose they’re defending their chicks from predators. “
The article additionally quoted a professor of wildlife biology at McGill College, surprisingly named David Chicken. Ornithology professor Byrd advised us the birds (technically referred to as American Oystercatchers) may additionally have a “stress response” triggered by the flying robots, which he stated may trigger them to “flee the seaside and abandon their eggs, similar to like hundreds of swish terns A current drone crash In San Diego.
Byrd stated the native oystercatchers, which nest totally on Rockaway Seaside, are “extremely endangered.”
Gizmodo reached out to the NYPD for extra details about its drone program however didn’t instantly obtain a response.
