Workshop: Best Practices for Surveying Nesting Colonial Waterbirds with Drones

Workshop
TAMU-CC Lone Star UAS Center of Excellence and Innovation
Starts
July 27, 2022
8:00 am
Ends
July 27, 2022
5:00 pm
Venue
TAMU-CC Lone Star UAS Center
10201 S. Padre Island Dr.
Corpus Christi, TX 78418
Highlight
Registration is now CLOSED

In-person workshop designed to provide an overview of best practices for using rotor drones to survey nesting colonial waterbirds. Aimed at professionals responsible for surveying colonial waterbirds, or users of waterbird nesting data collected from a drone. Taught by experienced researchers and practitioners using drones and conducting waterbird surveys.

This workshop provides an awareness of steps for conducting drone surveys of nesting colonial waterbirds using scientifically-sound practices that minimize impacts to birds and produces high-quality data. Participants will engage in all steps of preparation and use of drones for waterbird colony surveys, including manipulation of imagery such as building 3D images using structure-from-motion software, as well as an opportunity to pilot a drone.

Workshop topics:

  • Overview of colonial waterbird survey techniques and data types  
  • Navigating the drone regulatory requirements
  • Photogrammetry
  • Pilot training
  • Equipment options
  • Drone survey methods and demonstrations
  • Image‐processing software and hardware options
  • Student test flights (commercial drone or participant’s personal drone)

Featured Instructors:

Dr. Dale Gawlik
Endowed Chair for Conservation and Biodiversity
Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

Dr. Michael Starek
Associate Professor, Engineering and Computer Science
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

Trey Barron
Wildlife Diversity Biologist
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Hank Arnold
Drone Pilot and Waterbird Surveying Volunteer         
Texas Audubon                             

Rostam Mirzadi                                 
Graduate Student, Conservation and Biodiversity Lab            
Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi


This workshop was made possible by a Harvey Weil Sportsman/Conservationist Award to the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies.  The Lone Star UAS Center of Excellence and Innovation generously provided use of their testing facility.

Lunch will be provided for registered participants