Birds Attack Drones At Rockaway Beach, Rescue Operations Disrupted

At Rockaway Beach, aggressive birds are disrupting drone operations designed to monitor sharks and aid swimmers. The American oystercatchers, long-beaked birds nesting along the Queens shoreline, have been attacking the drones, mistaking them for predators threatening their chicks. According to wildlife coordinator Veronica Welsh, the birds are highly protective and have been swooping down on the drones, causing significant stress.

The drones, which produce a loud humming noise, have forced the Parks Department to adjust their flight paths. Collaborative efforts between the police, fire, and emergency management departments have led to rerouting the drones away from nesting areas to ensure the safety of both the birds and beachgoers.

Despite these adjustments, some beach visitors are frustrated. Surfer Andrew Thomas, 32, emphasized the importance of drones in preventing shark attacks and saving lives, citing a recent beach closure due to a shark sighting. He argued that the drones provide crucial surveillance in the water.

Others report that bird attacks on drones are more frequent when the devices approach the shore. Doran Edwards, a 40-year-old surfer, noted that birds generally leave drones alone when they are over the water.

FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh assured the public that the adjusted drone routes would not compromise safety. The American oystercatchers, sharing their habitat with endangered piping plovers, are a high conservation priority. Wildlife expert David Bird warned of the potential disaster if these birds abandoned their nests due to drone disturbances. The Emergency Management Department first noticed the bird disturbances and alerted other agencies, leading to the modification of drone operations.

The presence of these aggressive birds has added a layer of complexity to drone operations at Rockaway Beach, highlighting the challenges of balancing wildlife protection with public safety measures.