Emperor penguin reactions to UAVs: First observations and comparisons with effects of human approach

Abstract The use of UAVs has greatly increased in recent years, worldwide and in the Antarctic. Their use has recently increased even in very remote and pristine regions of the Antarctic. There is, however, very little information on the sensitivity of Antarctic species to such disturbance. In particular, there is nothing on the emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri), a flagship species of the region. We therefore, during November 2019, tested the responses of emperor penguins at the Atka Bay colony (Queen Maud Land). We video recorded the behaviour of adults and chicks during multirotor UAV activity and human approach. There were, in general, only moderate responses with distinct reactions in fewer than 20% of individuals observed. Chicks increased vigilance behaviour during UAV activity but both adults and chicks did so during human approach. We saw the greatest reaction in chicks during vertical UAV approach. Adults showed intermediate reactions to vertical UAV approach but only very few reactions to horizontal flights.