Using UAV-mounted thermal cameras to detect the presence of nesting nightjar in upland clear-fell: A case study in South Wales, UK

Shewring, Mike P.; Vafidis, Jim O.

Abstract

1. Confirming the presence and location of European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus nests is a significant fieldwork challenge in ecological monitoring. Nest sites can be located through direct observation or capture and radio tracking of breeding individuals; however, such work is time consuming, disturbing and costly. 2. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) equipped with thermal sensors may enable rapid survey over large areas by detecting nest locations based on the contrast of relatively warm nests and the surrounding cooler ground. The application of this concept using UAV-mounted thermal sensors was trialled in two upland clear-fell forestry sites in South Wales, UK. 3. Detection trials were undertaken at five known nightjar nest sites to assess optimal timing and flight height for surveys. Nest heat signatures were clear during dusk and dawn, but not during the daytime. Nests were identifiable at flight heights up to 25m, but flight heights of 12–20m were optimal for the numbers of pixels per nest. 4. This approach was tested in a field trial of a 17-ha forestry site where the presence and position of nesting nightjars were unknown. An automated transect at dusk and dawn at 15m flight elevation identified two active nightjar nests and four male nightjar roost sites. Without image analysis automation, the process of manual inspection of 2607 images for ‘hotspots’ of the approximate size and shape of nightjar nests was laborious. 5. The UAV approach took around 18h including survey time, processing and ground verification, whilst a nightjar nest finding survey would take 35h for the same area. The small size of nightjars and the low resolution of the thermal sensors requires low altitude flight in order to maximize detectability and pixel coverage. Low flight elevation requires more consideration of the risk of collision with trees or posts. Consequently, the approach would not be suitable for covering areas of highly variable terrain.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 11, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Feb 23, 2021
• Publication Date: 2021-01
• Deposit Date: Jun 26, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 29, 2021
• Journal: Ecological Solutions and Evidence
• Print ISSN: 2688-8319
• Electronic ISSN: 2688-8319
• Publisher: Wiley Open Access
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 2
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: e12052
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12052
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/7121268