At Rockaway Beach in Queens, New York, fears for the safety of seabirds have been raised over the lack of harmony between oystercatcher and drones.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the American oystercatcher is a seabird with an orange-red beak that is slightly smaller than a common seagull. Its beak is used to pry open clams, oysters and other shellfish. Every spring and summer, they lay eggs and hatch on Rockaway Beach, putting them at odds with the local drones on duty. Since May, they have been making high-pitched calls and swooping down to attack drones used to scan for drowning people and sharks. "They think they're protecting their chicks from predators," says Veronica, the parks department's wildlife coordinator. Some experts believe that this increases the chance of oystercatcher being injured by drone blades.
Schulte, the ornithologist, says such conflicts are becoming more common along the East Coast. Whenever seabirds leave their nests to chase drones, they are unable to care for their young, effectively making the nests more vulnerable to predators. Schulte suggested drones could fly higher, or lifeguards could take over patrols.
