Drone Ecology: a new method of detecting skylark nests in crop fields

Our findings show that using a UAV-based system to find skylark nests is feasible but presents itself with restrictions. We recommend performing drone flights at the lowest daily temperature possible, as well as scheduling the flight adequately ahead of the civil twilight. The remaining significant variables are usually difficult to account for nest searching. Nest visibility, vegetation density and vegetation height are dependent on sowing technique and nest position, thus it is not possible to influence the flight parameters according to them.
This study provides a first step to develop guidelines and protocols of UVA-based methods for skylark nest searching and other potential ground-breeding bird species. With further research, the UAV-based method might soon become a standard technique in conservation research for ground-breeding birds.