Data for analysis of blackbird flock responses toward a spraying drone in an agroecosystem: Importance of flock size, habitat, and time of day

We evaluated flock responses to a drone capable of spraying when first approached and with 10 minutes of hazing to inform protocols for delivering repellents on agricultural landscapes. We used eye-in-the-sky drones to video the drone with spraying capabilities and capture if flocks took flight within 80 meters (i.e., range of potential spray drift). We measured flight initiation distance (FID) when close approach occurred (i.e., drone ≤80 meters from flock). While hazing, we piloted the drone to 1) repeatedly cut through a flock and create chaos or 2) move along the flock edge to herd birds out of target habitat (i.e., sunflower or cattail). We recorded abandonment, flock reduction, and return rate of birds in response to drone hazing. This study was implemented between September 2019 through October 2020 in multiple counties in North Dakota, USA where blackbird damage to sunflowers is prevalent. This data publication contains the data and R code used to analyze these data.
We designed this study to evaluate the blackbird flock response to a drone capable of spraying when first approached and with 10 minutes of hazing to inform protocols for delivering repellents on agricultural landscapes.
For more information about this study and these data, see White et al. (2025).