Gamekeepers in the Yorkshire Dales are using thermal drone technology to help protect vulnerable ground-nesting birds during the hay and silage cutting season.
The Yorkshire Dales Moorland Group has highlighted how keepers on the Bolton Estate in Wensleydale are deploying thermal imaging drones to locate the nests and chicks of red-listed species, including curlews and oystercatchers, before mowing begins.
Once birds are identified, keepers work alongside farmers to ensure the areas are avoided during cutting operations, giving the chicks a better chance of surviving and fledging.
According to the group, the technique has proved highly effective, with dozens of breeding waders safeguarded each year. However, it says the work is time-consuming and relies on suitable weather conditions to allow the drones to operate effectively.
The group says the drone surveys form part of a wider conservation approach that also includes predator control and nest protection to improve breeding success on moorland edges and surrounding meadows.
A Yorkshire Dales Moorland Group spokesperson said modern gamekeeping is “as much about conservation and habitat creation as it is about protecting gamebirds,” adding that the two are closely linked on the estates it represents.
The organisation praised its gamekeepers for becoming highly skilled at spotting the tiny heat signatures of well-camouflaged chicks and thanked local farmers for working collaboratively to protect wildlife during harvesting.
Curlews are among the UK’s fastest-declining bird species, and conservationists from a range of organisations have been exploring different measures to improve breeding success.
The Yorkshire Dales Moorland Group said the work was making “a massive difference” to fledging rates and recognised the commitment of those involved in protecting these iconic upland birds.
