A new initiative to monitor swimmers and sharks on New York City beaches with surveillance drones is spurring backlash from shorebirds.
A drone lands for a battery swap at Rockaway Beach in New York, Thursday, July 11, 2024. A fleet of drones patrolling New York Citys beaches for signs of sharks and struggling swimmers is drawing backlash from an aggressive group of seaside residents: local shorebirds. Since the drones began flying in May, flocks of birds have repeatedly swarmed the devices, forcing the police department and other city agencies to adjust their flight plans.
No birds have been harmed, but officials say there have been several close calls. The drones, which come equipped with inflatable life rafts that can be dropped on distressed swimmers, have yet to conduct any rescues. TheyCity officials said the “swarming incidents” have been primarily carried out by American oystercatchers. The shorebird, known for its striking orange bill, lays its eggs this time of year in the sand on Rockaway Beach.
After the city’s Emergency Management Department flagged the coastal conflict last month, drone operators, largely drawn from the police and fire department, agreed to fly the devices further from oystercatcher nesting areas. New York City is not alone turning to drones to patrol its waters. Following a spate of shark bites last summer, a
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