The PhD Project was awarded a generous grant from Sea-Changers, a marine conservation charity, to support our drone-based seal research at the Ythan Estuary. This funding is crucial for providing the on-the-ground assistance needed to ensure safe and effective drone flights, while safeguarding the delicate wildlife of the reserve. It's all the people on the ground who make my research possible. I’m excited to introduce Adam, my latest drone observer intern. Read on to hear his reflections on the role!
"The early bird gets the worm, and
the sleepy student gets a Greggs’ bacon roll on their way to Newburgh Beach for
a sunrise seal survey. At least, that’s what my experience as a drone intern/observer was. With low tides and
good flying weather often colliding during the wee hours of the morning, I was
fortunate enough to start the day watching the sun spread across the beach,
listening to the whimsical wails of the fifteen thousand or so seals that sat
across the estuary from me.
My “walk to work” at Newburgh ... (photo credit: Adam Robertson)
The early morning visits to Newburgh were not just for fun, however (or about bacon rolls). Instead, it was to assist with the drone surveys (undertaken by Claire Stainfield) to count the vast and magnificent seals at the North-side haul out. Claire’s job was (and still is) to fly the drone safely over the seals, recording images that she would later count, collecting data for her PhD project.
My job was to maintain sight of
the drone, observe any disturbances (human or other) caused to the seals, and
engage with any curious early-morning beachgoers about the project. The latter
happened infrequently, understandably, as the bulk of surveys I attended were
at 7 am, but those I did talk to were deeply interested in the project and
allowed me to test my newfound seal knowledge. However, the early starts meant
my role was more oriented towards observing, rather than engaging. This
included observing the drone in its course as it passed over the seals,
ensuring someone always had sight of it, a job that, at sunrise, involved
considerable amounts of squinting.
Unfortunately, the low
sun made the seals virtually invisible in my photos, but I assure you they are
there ... (photo credit: Adam Robertson)
Whilst most people I met on my internship were responsibly walking on the south side of the beach, it was not uncommon to spot a walker on the north side, edging closer to the seals for the perfect picture (or perhaps to pet one? They are remarkably like dogs in their mannerisms). Oftentimes, this close, human encounter would cause the seals to group together and become vigilant and unrelaxed, and in extreme cases, cause them to stampede to the safety of the water. On one of my surveys, I counted over one hundred seals stampeding into the sea in the presence of just two walkers rounding the corner close to the haul out. The disturbance forced us to recall the drone, cancelling the survey. It was an eye-opening experience to see the impact of human disturbance on such an important seal haul-out site, and it highlighted the importance of projects like Claire's.
Throughout the internship, I learnt about seals and their behaviour, but also how fragile a haul-out site can be, even if it is one of thousands of individuals ( in fact, the number of seals during peak moult times reached 2500!). The internship gave me valuable experience in conservation and surveying. It also presented the opportunity to meet and talk with visitors who care deeply about the seals of Newburgh and learn from Claire, an expert in her field. Finally, it was the cause of many early morning bacon rolls, for which I am grateful."
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