Unmanned Aircraft Systems as a Powerful Tool to Detect Fine-Scale Spatial Positioning and Interactions between Waterbirds at High-Tide Roosts

SIMPLE SUMMARY: In the present study, we investigated surveillance with unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) as a novel and enhanced tool to detect the individual occurrences and behavioral interactions of roosting waterbirds. We used UAS-based aerial imagery to provide fine-scale density estimations to explain intra- and inter-species interactions for 10 selected waterbird species on a major roost site in the Danish Wadden Sea. Uniquely defined density distributions were detected which, to some degree, were dependent on species and species size, with smaller waders exhibiting densely packed flocks, whereas larger species showed lower densities. Multi-species flocks were observed to occur frequently (31.9%), and generally resulted in lower densities than single-species flocks for each of the species involved. Furthermore, we demonstrated that UAS aerial photos can be used to classify in situ habitats during high-tides, which facilitated the collection of precise data for the temporal habitat choice of individual species. Our work suggests that UAS-based surveys can provide access to previously hidden aspects of the ecology for the highly dynamic communities of roosting waterbirds in the non-breeding season, important for future conservational efforts. ABSTRACT: The surveillance of behavioral interactions between individuals in bird populations is important to understand social dynamics and explain distribution patterns caused by competition for food and space. For waterbirds, little is known about interactions between individuals at high-tide roosts. In the present study, we used surveying with unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) to provide enhanced information on previously hidden aspects of the highly dynamic communities of roosting waterbirds in the non-breeding season. Fine-scale density estimations, derived from aerial photos obtained with UASs, were used as a measure to explain intra- and inter-species interactions for 10 selected waterbird species on a major roost site in the Danish Wadden Sea. Uniquely defined density distributions were detected, which, to some degree, were dependent on species and species size, with smaller waders exhibiting densely packed flocks (e.g., dunlin Calidris alpina and golden plover Pluvialis apricaria), whereas larger species, such as ducks and geese (Anatidae) exhibited lower densities. Multi-species flocks were observed to occur frequently (31.9%) and generally resulted in lower densities than single-species flocks for each of the species involved. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that UAS aerial photos can be used both to assess positions for roosting waterbirds and to classify habitats (i.e., mudflats, vegetated areas, waterline, and flooded areas) during high-tide. This facilitated the collection of precise data for temporal habitat choices for individual species when using the studied roost site. Our study highlights UAS surveys as an effective tool to gather hitherto unobtainable data for individual occurrences of roosting waterbirds on a spatiotemporal scale.