Drones useful for surveying duck broods

A mallard hen escorts her nine ducklings across a pond. The picture was taken by a drone as part of a project using drones outfitted with thermal imaging cameras to survey duck broods in Manitoba, Canada, and Minnesota. Once ducks were identified via thermal imaging, the drone would be lowered to take a color photograph to help identify the species.  (Photo by Jacob Bushaw/LSU AgCenter)
Researchers with the LSU AgCenter School of Renewable Natural Resources have found using drones equipped with thermal cameras is more effective and efficient in detecting duck broods than the traditional method of using ground surveys when observing nesting areas. Brood surveys are used to estimate the productivity of ducks. However, ground surveys may underestimate productivity because ducks…

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