At Rockaway Beach, aggressive birds have been attacking drones deployed by the city to monitor sharks and save swimmers. American oystercatchers, known for their long beaks, have been dive-bombing the three-foot drones to protect their nests. According to Veronica Welsh, a wildlife coordinator, the birds perceive the drones as predators threatening their chicks.
The drones, which produce a loud humming noise, have caused significant stress to the birds, leading them to flee their nests. This disturbance has prompted the Parks Department to adjust the drones’ flight paths to avoid the nesting areas, ensuring the safety of both the birds and beachgoers. The police, fire, and emergency management departments have collaborated to reroute the drones.
Despite these adjustments, some beach visitors express frustration with the birds’ interference. Surfer Andrew Thomas, 32, highlighted the importance of drones in preventing shark attacks, stating, “The more eyes in the water, the better.” He noted that the drones have already helped close the beach by spotting a shark, preventing potential danger.
On the other hand, some beachgoers report that bird attacks primarily occur when drones approach the shoreline. Doran Edwards, a 40-year-old surfer, mentioned that the birds usually leave the drones alone when they are over the water.
FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh assured that the new drone routes would not compromise the safety of beach visitors. The black and white oystercatchers, sharing their habitat with endangered piping plovers, are a high conservation concern. Wildlife expert David Bird emphasized the disaster that could occur if these birds abandoned their nests due to drone disturbances. The Emergency Management Department first noticed the bird disturbances and alerted other agencies to modify their drone operations.
