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3,000 eggs abandoned after drone scares birds in California

abcnews.go.com

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Re: 3,000 eggs abandoned after drone scares birds in California

#171

Post by 7952 »

prawn wrote: post #15
Causality1 wrote: post #11

Interesting. I wonder why the drone caused such a disproportionate response. The article doesn't address it but I doubt that if, say, an eagle had landed or started killing birds they would have abandoned so many eggs.

I fly drones including with commercial filming permits at conservation parks/islands with large bird populations. Different types of birds react in various ways to a drone though I've never noticed similar birds to these act in an overly panicked way. Some types of birds will take flight and then resettle, some will circle closely and try to intimidate the drone (galahs), some charge or consider attacking it (osprey,…

Some bird species tend to take-off and fly about when disturbed. This may causes an energy defecit that could have an effect. Birds may have evolved to roost for a particular portion of the day and be put under stress if they can't. There is not necessarily good science on this but wading or coastal birds are probably best avoided.

Re: 3,000 eggs abandoned after drone scares birds in California

#172

Post by KineticLensman »

anonAndOn wrote: post #155
KineticLensman wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Elegant Terns are considered 'Near Threatened' - so they are not at imminent risk of extinction. However, the wetland - Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve - where they live is home to other species that may not be so secure. > I wouldn't discard a deliberated action it somebody wants to develop the area. If we gradually lose all of the migration endpoints the species will eventually suffer.

>If we gradually lose all of the migration endpoints the species will eventually suffer. Indeed. We may see the extinction of the monarch butterfly within the decade for this very reason.

Yes.

I work at the Hawk Conservation Trust in the UK. We have a few White-headed vultures and this year two of them have successfully raised a chick (currently two months old and about to start flapping its little wings). A visitor asked me if it would be returned to the wild. I said 'no - it is part of the insurance policy for this species' and the conversation moved on.

What I didn't say was that returning it to the wild would be like throwing it into a shredder. These African birds are superbly good at spotting carrion. When poachers kill elephants and rhinos, the vultures start circling and unwittingly act as a signal to the wildlife rangers that poachers might be in the vicinity. So, after they have chain-sawed the horns / tusks off, the poachers poison the carcasses to kill the vultures so they won't give the game away at the next kill. The record is 500 vultures of various species killed as a result of one poaching event. The wild populations will not survive this relentless slaughter.

So, I'm afraid I have very little sympathy for people who are worried about their drone-flying rights. Sorry.

Re: 3,000 eggs abandoned after drone scares birds in California

#173

Post by psychlops »

rossdavidh wrote: post #168

Because "3,000 eggs abandoned after dogs scare birds in California", would be a headline that gets much less attention.

Some evidence of the drone would be a nice addition. Or the construction of the nearby multimillion dollar homes they mention. I'm curious how they narrowed it down to two drone flights.

Re: 3,000 eggs abandoned after drone scares birds in California

#174

Post by wyager »

finiteseries wrote: post #135
globular-toast wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's the point of walking a dog on a leash, though? Dogs need to stretch their legs. They're supposed to run around. The underlying problem is people taking in animals as pets without taking the responsibility that should be required as a dog owner.

It’s a wildlife refuge, Brad.

His point is obviously that that is not an appropriate place to walk a dog at all.

Re: 3,000 eggs abandoned after drone scares birds in California

#175

Post by wyager »

lobotryas wrote: post #136
globular-toast wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's the point of walking a dog on a leash, though? Dogs need to stretch their legs. They're supposed to run around. The underlying problem is people taking in animals as pets without taking the responsibility that should be required as a dog owner.

Go buy a few private acres for that. If your dog shares public space with others you don’t get to just let it off leash.

That’s his point.

Re: 3,000 eggs abandoned after drone scares birds in California

#176

Post by wyager »

kodah wrote: post #147
fugfjj wrote: post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why thankfully? An unleashed dog comes up to you where its not supposed to. - What are its intentions? - Is it aggressive? - Is it rabid? Its no different than if a coyote came up and accosted you. Worse, because dogs are socialized not to fear man. My neighbor had an aggressive dog (german shepherd) and every time my kid was outside in the backyard I made sure to carry a weapon to kill it if need be. It didn't reall…

You have effectively picked the worst sample of dogs, and established a standard that a human being may take a life based on that standard. Dogs have tells too, and there's common ones that most dog owners will know: - ears backed with tail tucked or quick wagging - cowering / laying down (in a non-relaxed posture) - deep growls and a leg spread defensive stance And there's tells that occur far before the above. Dogs…

The number of dog attacks that occur in the US every year suggest your “you can always avoid a dog attack” model is completely wrong.

Re: 3,000 eggs abandoned after drone scares birds in California

#177

Post by fugfjj »

kodah wrote: post #147
fugfjj wrote: post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why thankfully? An unleashed dog comes up to you where its not supposed to. - What are its intentions? - Is it aggressive? - Is it rabid? Its no different than if a coyote came up and accosted you. Worse, because dogs are socialized not to fear man. My neighbor had an aggressive dog (german shepherd) and every time my kid was outside in the backyard I made sure to carry a weapon to kill it if need be. It didn't reall…

You have effectively picked the worst sample of dogs, and established a standard that a human being may take a life based on that standard. Dogs have tells too, and there's common ones that most dog owners will know: - ears backed with tail tucked or quick wagging - cowering / laying down (in a non-relaxed posture) - deep growls and a leg spread defensive stance And there's tells that occur far before the above. Dogs…

I actually like dogs. Id be honored to have my BF entrust his dog to me for a few days.

But the onus is not on me to meet your pet half way, learn the species’ “tells” or pretend that there are no irresponsible owners.

The onus is on you.

Re: 3,000 eggs abandoned after drone scares birds in California

#178

Post by efraim »

kodah wrote: post #164
MauranKilom wrote: post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I still have a (fading) scar on my calf from that one time I ran past some tables in a cafe as a toddler. I hold no ill will towards the dog that leapt out from under a table and sunk his jaws into my leg before the owners could even react. But let's be clear that big dog + unfamiliar small child is not about "can you read the tells".

Sure, it doesn't always work that way. Dogs are still animals and can be unpredictable. That does not rise to the level of shooting some stray or off-leash dog. I still have puncture marks in my hand from when I dislodged a sucker from my childhood dogs throat and he bit down. Defending yourself and being a violent person are two different things. The man who shoots any off-leash or stray dog is just violent.

>Dogs are still animals and can be unpredictable.

Which is precisely why they must be on a leash, always. Except in a fenced off area maybe.

Re: 3,000 eggs abandoned after drone scares birds in California

#179

Post by badgley »

capedape wrote: post #74
diggan wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I frequently walk my dogs without leash. They follow my command, don't disturb other people or dogs unless both parties engage and generally I don't do anything that someone who has a leash wouldn't be doing. They also walk side-by-side with me when off-leash. This is very common in the city I live and surrounding area (Barcelona, Spain and Catalunya). Both me and others without leashes are indistinctive from people…

This and even if they are behaving that can change anytime, especially in nature. This is coming from someone who just broke an elbow because of off leash dogs on a trail. Trail allowed bikes and dogs on leash. Dogs were on the side of the trail sniffing, caught wind of something else and immediately jumped in front of bike. I was going slow and watching them like a hawk. Dodged one and couldn’t the other. Owners wer…

https://slco.org/parks/millcreek-canyon/

there's a great hike just outside Salt Lake City that solves this problem by allowing bikes on even numbered days and off-leash dogs on odd numbered days

Re: 3,000 eggs abandoned after drone scares birds in California

#180

Post by splithalf »

mensetmanusman wrote: post #6

“ That’s contributed not only to increased drone activity, but also to more dogs and bicycles on the trails – all of which are prohibited. “We’ve seen a significant increase in dogs, particularly off-leash,” Loebl said. “That’s devastating for wildlife and this is prime nesting season. The dogs chase the birds and the birds abandon their nests.” Another problem is the development of multimillion-dollar homes on the h…

I think dog owners are generally good people who have done really great things but I also sometimes feel like there might be a few entitled jerks in their ranks, especially pit bull owners.
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