Monitoring active Osprey nests with drones is more time-efficient and less disturbing than conventional methods

Drones are used to monitor bird nesting sites at less accessible locations, such as on cliffs, human infrastructure, or within the tree canopy. While there are a growing number of studies documenting avian behavioral responses to various drones, there is a continued need to monitor taxa-specific responses to different drone models. We explored both the time efficiency and impact of different nest survey methods (drones, nest climbing, and observations from a bucket truck) and different drone model sizes (small, medium, large) on the nest defense behavior of breeding Ospreys. We conducted 166 surveys (126 drone, 25 climbing, 15 bucket truck) at 85 active nests across three nesting stages. We found variation in 4 of 6 pre-defined behavioral categories, namely for calling, flying, at nest, and perching behaviors with survey method, sex, and nest stage. Females were more responsive to all survey methods compared to males and engaged in nest-protection behaviors most frequently during incuba..., , , # Monitoring active Osprey nests with drones is more time-efficient and less disturbing than conventional methods.

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.mkkwh719f](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.mkkwh719f)

## Description of the data and file structure

**Monitoring active Osprey nests with drones is more time-efficient and less disturbing than conventional methods.**

Document produced by Natasha Murphy, 14/11/2024. 

This repository contains R code and data to run analyses as described in the paper titled *Monitoring active Osprey nests with drones is more time-efficient and less disturbing than conventional methods by Murphy et al*. This includes scripts for GLMMs, Dirichlet regression, sensitivity analysis, and Kruskal-Wallis rank sum tests. Data are provided with observer and pilot/climber names redacted. 

Our final dataset comprised of both counts and duration for each of the behaviors. For behavioral counts, we built a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) to examine the effects of sur...