Data from: drones as a tool to study and monitor endangered Grey Crowned Cranes (Balaerica regulorum): behavioural responses and recommended guidelines

# Data from: drones as a tool to study and monitor endangered Grey Crowned Cranes (Balaerica regulorum): behavioural responses and recommended guidelines This README file was generated on 2024-02-27 by Stuart Demmer. GENERAL INFORMATION 1. Title of Dataset: Drones as a tool to study and monitor endangered Grey Crowned Cranes (*Balearica regulorum*): Behavioural responses and recommended guidelines 2. Author Information A. Principal Investigator Contact Information Name: Carmen Rosa Demmer Institution: University of South Africa Address: Howick, KZN South Africa Email: [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail]) B. Associate Contact Information Name: Stuart Demmer Institution: NA Address: Howick, KZN South Africa Email: [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail]) B. Supervisor Contact Information Name: Trevor McIntyre Institution: University of South Africa Address: Pretoria, GAU South Africa Email: [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail]) 3. Date of data collection (single date, range, approximate date): 2022-2023 4. Geographic location of data collection: Southern Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa 5. Information about funding sources that supported the collection of the data: No formal funding SHARING/ACCESS INFORMATION 1. Licenses/restrictions placed on the data: CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain 2. Links to publications that cite or use the data: Demmer, C. R., Demmer, S., & McIntyre, T. (2024). rones as a tool to study and monitor endangered Grey Crowned Cranes (*Balearica regulorum*): Behavioural responses and recommended guidelines. Ecology and Evolution. [https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10990](https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10990) 1. Links to other publicly accessible locations of the data: None 2. Links/relationships to ancillary data sets: None 3. Was data derived from another source? No A. If yes, list source(s): NA 4. Recommended citation for this dataset: Demmer, C. R., Demmer, S., & McIntyre, T. (2024). Data from: Drones as a tool to study and monitor endangered Grey Crowned Cranes (*Balearica regulorum*): Behavioural responses and recommended guidelines. Dryad Digital Repository. [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.tdz08kq59](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.tdz08kq59) DATA & FILE OVERVIEW 1. File List: A) 0_Drone_deploy_distance_assessment.csv B) 1_Method_comparrison.csv C) 2_On-foot_method_assessment.csv D) 3_Drone_method_assessment.csv E) 4_1_Flock_on-foot_method_assessment.csv F) 4_2_Flock_drone_method_assessment.csv G) 5_Approach_angle.csv 1. Relationship between files, if important: None 2. Additional related data collected that was not included in the current data package: None 3. Are there multiple versions of the dataset? No A. If yes, name of file(s) that was updated: NA i. Why was the file updated? NA ii. When was the file updated? NA \######################################################################### DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: 0_Drone_deploy_distance_assessment.csv 1. Number of variables: 3 2. Number of cases/rows: 516 3. Variable List: * behaviour_type: type of behaviour displayed * proportion: proportion of birds in the grouping that displayed the behaviour type * drone_deploy_distance: distance from drone deployment site to bird grouping (in meters) 4. Missing data codes: None 5. Specialized formats or other abbreviations used: None \######################################################################### DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: 1_Method_comparrison.csv These are the data used to determine the average distance at which observations were able to be made between two monitoring methods; dones and on-foot approaches. 1. Number of variables: 5 2. Number of cases/rows: 804 3. Variable List: * subject_grouping_id: id of bird grouping * group_type: bird grouping type * monitoring_method: type of monitoring method used when approaching the bird groupings * behaviour_type: type of behaviour displayed by the grouping * distance: distance at which the behaviour type was displayed (in meters) 4. Missing data codes: NA (data not available) 5. Specialized formats or other abbreviations used: None \######################################################################### DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: 2_On-foot_method_assessment.csv These are the data used to determine the distance at which different behaviours were displayed by the birds when approached on-foot. 1. Number of variables: 6 2. Number of cases/rows: 288 3. Variable List: * subject_grouping_id: id of bird grouping * group_type: type of bird grouping * monitoring_method: type of monitoring method used * behaviour_type: type of behaviour exhibited by a proportion of the birds in the grouping at the given distance * proportion: proportion of birds in the grouping exhibiting the behaviour type * distance: distance of the observer to the bird grouping where the observation was made (in meters) 4. Missing data codes: NA (data not applicable) 5. Specialized formats or other abbreviations used: None \######################################################################### DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: 3_Drone_method_assessment.csv These are the data used to determine the distance at which different behaviours were displayed by the birds when approached by a drone. 1. Number of variables: 5 2. Number of cases/rows: 516 3. Variable List: * group_type: type of bird grouping * monitoring_method: type of monitoring method used * behaviour_type: type of behaviour exhibited by a proportion of the birds in the grouping at the given distance * proportion: proportion of birds in the grouping exhibiting the behaviour type * distance: distance of the drone to the bird grouping where the observation was made (in meters) 4. Missing data codes: None 5. Specialized formats or other abbreviations used: None \######################################################################### DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: 4_1_Flock_on-foot_method_assessment.csv These are the data used to determine the change in behavioural response by grey crowned crane flocks of different sizes to on-foot approaches. 1. Number of variables: 6 2. Number of cases/rows: 158 3. Variable List: * group_type: type of bird grouping * monitoring_method: type of monitoring method used * behaviour_type: type of behaviour exhibited by a proportion of the birds in the grouping at the given distance * flock_size: the total number of birds in the flock * proportion: proportion of birds in the grouping exhibiting the behaviour type * distance: distance of the drone to the bird grouping where the observation was made (in meters) 4. Missing data codes: None 5. Specialized formats or other abbreviations used: None \######################################################################### DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: 4_2_Flock_drone_method_assessment.csv These are the data used to determine the change in behavioural response by grey crowned crane flocks of different sizes to drone approaches. 1. Number of variables: 6 2. Number of cases/rows: 286 3. Variable List: * group_type: type of bird grouping * monitoring_method: type of monitoring method used * behaviour_type: type of behaviour exhibited by a proportion of the birds in the grouping at the given distance * flock_size: the total number of birds in the flock * proportion: proportion of birds in the grouping exhibiting the behaviour type * distance: distance of the drone to the bird grouping where the observation was made (in meters) 4. Missing data codes: None 5. Specialized formats or other abbreviations used: None \######################################################################### DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR: 5_Approach_angle.csv These are the data used to assess the reponse of breeding grey crowned crane parents with offspring (either nesting or with hatchlings) to drone approaches from two angles. 1. Number of variables: 4 2. Number of cases/rows: 315 3. Variable List: * nest_site_id: the ID of the nest site being measured * breeding_stage: the stage of nesting, either before ("During nesting") or after eggs are hatched ("After nesting") * approach_angle: the angle at which the drone was flown while approaching the nest (vertical = approx. 90°, diagonal = approx. 45°) * disturbance_type: the level of disturbance experienced by the grouping because of the approach (1 = minor - no response, looking , 2 = modertate - standing, wings raised or walking away, 3 = major flying away) 4. Missing data codes: None 5. Specialized formats or other abbreviations used: None