The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Will the growing use of mechanical drones (both for pleasure and commercial use) pose more of a threat or an opportunity for birders?

This summer I have twice seen them being flown low over the RSPB reserve at Tetney Marsh and the adjacent beach (Can't see that being encouraged at Frampton.) In truth, the little egrets didn't seem too much bothered.

Will birds adapt - just as they do to the activities of military aircraft at Donna Nook?

Have there been any records of drone-bird collisions?

Excuse the French Jim but sod the birds! It's more a case of whether i will adapt or of I end up on a charge of ABH.

Had some morons flying planes / drones over me at that point the other day. I only just stayed calm

Trouble is that most people aren't the slightest interest in the wellbeing of birds.

You only have to hint the slightest misgivings about things like drones and you're liable to be labelled a killjoy, a spoilsport, a Luddite, a bird geek, a do-gooder or an effing twitcher.

No doubt drones will become more and more popular, for both pleasure and business applications, and any environmental impact will be put down as a price we have to pay for progress.

In the near future, I can well see them being used (sometimes unscrupulously) by photographers seeking unusual aerial shots of rare nesting species - or perhaps breeding seals at Donna Nook.

That said, I understand they do have a role, when used judiciously, in monitoring habitat that is hard to access.

Does the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust have a policy on drones being flown at reserves such as Gibraltar Point?

Has the RSPB issued any guidelines? It surely ought to be at the forefront of any debate.

Hi Jim, I have seen an instance this year where a drone has been used to locate marsh harrier nests to ensure they were not destroyed when harvesting a crop. The hen bird sat on the nest and was not disturbed during "droning". It seems to me that as with all technology there will be extremely helpful applications like this one, and more destructive uses when the technology is in the hands of an idiot or any irresponsible person.

Thanks, Phil, that's positive. I wonder if other species (eg lapwing or Arctic tern) would have been as docile as the harrier. I suppose the altitude of the drone is a factor.