Restoring Habitat with Drone Technology
By Alison Menefee, Virginia Senior Farm Bill Biologist
Something new and exciting is taking off in the world of habitat management. It’s soaring among the sweetgums and hovering above the sericea lespedeza, ready to strike. However, its ability to target and eradicate invasive species is balanced by its capacity for reintroducing native habitat.
Drones, also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), have become a popular topic of research due to their ability to effectively suppress undesired herbaceous and woody vegetation. They offer a dynamic approach to conservation efforts and significantly boost application efficiency, making them a cost-effective solution.
Chapter member and habitat chair, Jake Fletcher, has recently started using drones as a conservation tool for efforts across central and eastern Virginia. Due to the mobility and efficiency of the equipment, he has been able to impact more acres for northern bobwhites than using traditional equipment. Not only are they able to quickly herbicide an area, but they can also quickly plant a diverse blend of native grasses, forbs, and legumes utilized by quail for food, cover, and shelter.
Chapter member and habitat chair, Jake Fletcher, has recently started using drones as a conservation tool for efforts across central and eastern Virginia.
The use of drones in conservation will increase the impact of our work by allowing us to cover more acreage more efficiently. Unlike traditional equipment, drones are highly mobile and eliminate the need to haul equipment multiple times to one place. Commonly used models can carry 55-110 pounds of seed and 5-10.5 gallons of chemicals and have a swath coverage between 10- 33 feet.
The speed gate opening can be adjusted automatically using built-in software. The drones can spread seeds and herbicide as high as trees allow, with a target of 10 feet over the top of the canopy. They utilize air propulsion from the downforce of the propellers to deposit herbicide and seed directly into the canopy, providing precision application. The drones also have internal mapping software that sets a flight path, and they can return to the “home base” on their own if the battery becomes low.
One of the major applications of drone technology is spraying sericea lespedeza in areas where blackberries are heavily present. It can be difficult to access these areas with traditional equipment due to the dense thickets.
Another example of drone use is to spray large fields of non-native fescue. Once fescue is no longer dominating the landscape, native vegetation can be planted. In addition to this, drones could also be used for brush management in heavily thinned pine savannahs, extending their potential applications.
Drones are providing a new gateway to habitat management. However, there are still some limitations such as the need for a seed carrier, high seed and chemical rates slowing down the process, and battery restrictions.
But, with a recharge time of only five minutes, the battery limitation is minimal. Depending on the model, one battery can cover 6-10 acres and lasts for roughly 15 minutes.
Drones are increasing our capacity for landscape-level habitat management.
Despite these limitations, drones have numerous benefits. They can provide access to high slopes, reduce soil compaction, limit noise impacts on wildlife, and reach tight spaces that traditional methods cannot. Moreover, using drones can eliminate the need for heavy ground rigs, which may sink into the soil during the dormant winter season when planting native seeds is recommended.
Drones are increasing our capacity for landscape-level habitat management. They are a valuable tool for restoring bobwhite quail habitat and are reshaping our view of management. Had they existed at the time of Aldo Leopold, they would have certainly been tool number six.