Blackbird flock dispersal and abandonment data in response to drone hazing with an avian repellent in sunflower

We evaluated the capability of a spraying drone (DJI Agras MG-1P) deploying a repellent (Avian Control®; active ingredient: methyl anthranilate) or water to evoke abandonment, flock reductions, latency to return, and behavioral changes of blackbirds (Icteridae) foraging in sunflower (Helianthus annuus). We flew the spraying drone directly at the flock for hazing, while simultaneously applying the avian repellent (8-minute hazing period). We conducted 15-minute observational periods before and immediately after the hazing period to estimate flock size (number of birds), number of times the flock took flight (tally of lift-offs), and total time flock spent in flight (seconds). We evaluated changes in flight behavior after drone exposure and during the hazing period when flocks were exposed to either a repellent (i.e., methyl anthranilate) or control (i.e., water). This study was implemented between August 2021 through October 2022 in multiple counties in North Dakota, USA where blackbird damage to sunflowers is prevalent. This data publication contains the data and R code used analyze these data.
We designed the study to evaluate the efficacy of combining drone hazing with the avian repellent applied via a spraying drone to reduce bird activity in sunflower and ultimately reduce crop damage.
For more information about this study and these data, see Duttenhefner et al. (in press).