Maximum, mean and minimum diagonal flight initiation distances at a Black-headed Cull colony, from the publication.

Note: this publication is not about procellariiforms but it should be of interest to those contemplating using drones over colonies of albatrosses and giant petrels.

Estefania Velilla (Marine Conservation Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, The Netherlands) and colleagues have published open access in the journal PLoS One on results of flying drones over breeding seabirds, finding flight initiation distance varied between gulls, terns, a cormorant and a spoonbill.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Drone use has increased sharply worldwide over the past decade, leading to more frequent interactions with wildlife.  The rapid advancement of drones for ecological monitoring and research has further contributed to these encounters, which may disturb animal behavior, such as triggering flight responses in birds.  Therefore, best-practice guidelines are urgently needed to help operators and site managers minimize disturbances.  This study aimed to establish safe operating distances for seven common colonial breeding bird species: black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus), herring gull (Larus argentatus), lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus), Sandwich tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis), common tern (Sterna hirundo), Eurasian spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), and great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo).  We assessed the effects of professional and consumer-grade drones flying at altitudes between 5 and 50 meters on the flight responses of these species at breeding sites in the Dutch Wadden Sea.  Of 1492 drone flights, 7.4% caused disturbances, defined as more than 10% of birds becoming airborne.   Flight initiation distance (FID), the distance between a bird and the drone at the moment of flight response, varied by species. Sandwich terns and common terns had the largest FID (>170 m), followed by black-headed gulls (>160 m), herring gulls and lesser black-backed gulls (>60 m), while great cormorants and Eurasian spoonbills had the shortest (~5 m).  When selecting drone flight locations, we recommend considering species-specific FID and using the maximum diagonal FID as a guideline. Disturbance decreases with altitude, so flights should be conducted at 50 meters or higher whenever possible. These findings provide concrete guidelines to inform policy and promote the responsible use of drones in wildlife research and management.”

Reference:

Velilla, E., Hijner, N., van Ginkel, A., Zwarts, M., Heusinkveld, J.H.T., Koffijberg, K., Oosterbeek, K., Stahl, J., Duijns, S. & Govers, L.L. 2025.  Best practice guidance for recreational and professional drones near colonial breeding birds.  PLoS One 20(11): e0332619. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0332619.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 24 November 2025

A feral cat in New Zealand

The New Zealand Government has officially recognised feral cats as pests and will add them to the Predator Free 2050 list, which currently includes mustelids (Ferrets Stoats, Weasels), rats (Black, Norwegian and Pacific/Polynesian) and Australian Brushtail Possums.

“Conservation Minister, Tama Potaka said the inclusion of feral cats in the Predator Free 2050 goal means stronger protection for local wildlife, better tools for communities, and less impact on farmers, whānau [extended family groups] and the economy.  Feral cats are now found across Aotearoa New Zealand, from farms to forests, and they put huge pressure on native birds, bats, lizards and insects.  They also spread toxoplasmosis, which harms dolphins, affects people, and costs farmers through lost stock.”

The Minister said the addition of feral cats to the Predator Free 2050 target list will:

Support national coordination of feral cat control;
Allow Predator Free groups access to funding for projects targeting feral cats;
Boost research into effective and humane tools and technology;
Strengthen efforts to protect threatened species across the country.

Read the media release by the Department of Conservation.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 21 November 2025

 Removing alien predators from islands often leads to dramatic effects for seabirds with increases in numbers, improved breeding success, returns after going locally extinct, or arriving for the first time.  This is noticeable for the smaller burrowing petrels and shearwaters that are at particular risk to ground predators, as regularly reported for islands around the world in ACAP Latest News.

Two examples follow for seabird islands in the United Kingdom where Manx Shearwaters Puffinus puffinus are on the road to recovery following campaigns against predators - Ferrets Mustela furo and Norway or Brown Rats Rattus norvegicus on Rathlin Island off the north coast on Northern Island, and Norway Rats on St Agnes and Gugh in the Isles of Scilly,

Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland

“Manx Shearwaters have been recorded breeding on Rathlin Island for the first time in decades.  This month, [Richard Else] from LIFE Raft spotted the young seabirds at their burrows.  Once abundant on the island, Manx Shearwaters numbers plummeted as this amber-listed [medium conservation concern] species [is] vulnerable to various pressures, and by the late 20th century they *had almost disappeared.  Using night-vision technology, the LIFE Raft team captured footage of young birds ready to fledge from their burrows, providing the confirmation of Manx Shearwaters successfully nesting and raising chicks on the island.  This sighting is a hopeful sign for these vulnerable birds and with our ongoing work on Rathlin Island, we hope to see the island continue to be a seabird stronghold for future generations.” Information from the RSPB and the Facebook Page of RSPB Northern Island).

St Agnes and Gugh, Isles of Scilly

 A Manxie chick at is burrow mouth on St Agnes, photograph by Jaclyn Pearson

“The small community of residents on St Agnes and Gugh in the Scilly Isles are now seeing the rewards of the removal of Norway or Brown Rats Rattus norvegicus from the island.  Breeding colonies of Manx shearwaters and [European] storm petrels [Hydrobates pelagicus] were completely lost, but the islands were declared rat free in 2016, and in 2024 there were 154 Manx shearwater pairs and 100 storm petrel pairs”, as reported on the Facebook page of the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

Read ALN articles on the successful effort to remove rats from St Agnes and Gugh.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 20 November 2025

A Manx Shearwater gets rescued from the sea at Newgale Beach, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Manx Shearwater Rescue Pembrokeshire collects stranded Manx Shearwaters Puffinus puffinus along the Welsh coast to release back to sea according to a feature article from the UK’s Royal Society for the Preservation of Birds (RSPB).  The birds are reported to be fledglings making their maiden flights to spend the winter off the coast of Argentina.

“Storms can exacerbate the problem, leading to mass strandings.  In such conditions, volunteers can gather up to 200 birds in a day off beaches. This season, over 1000 [1147] birds were rescued and released.  Such events are only going to be made worse by climate change.  In 2025 there have been two mass stranding events, compared with two in the 10 years prior.”

“Manxie” is the logo of Manx Shearwater Rescue Pembrokeshire

The volunteer group also rescues birds away from the coast that have been blown inland by gales or affected by light pollution.  On 1 November the group held its first “Manx Shearwater Farewell” on Newgale Beach.  Attendants listened to a poem specially written for the event by Nicola Davies, the Children's Laureate Wales.  Inspired by the Hutton's Shearwater Charitable Trust in New Zealand, the farewell included releasing feathers.  Watch a 1.30 minute video clip of the event and look out for the “Manxie Cake” at the end!

You can follow Manx Shearwater Rescue Pembrokeshire via its Facebook Page.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 19 November 2025