Fixed-wing drone surveys provide opportunity for broad-scale surveys of sentinel species on South Georgia

Autonomous fixed-wing drones operating beyond visual line of sight of the pilot were used to conduct the first ever aerial, multi species baseline reference survey of land-breeding marine predators at South Georgia (Subarea 48.3).  Long term population monitoring in this remote, challenging environment has historically proved difficult, with routine monitoring generally limited to the immediate vicinity of the two research stations at Bird Island and King Edward Point. During this project we utilised fixed-wing drones, operating autonomously and beyond visual line of sight to survey key sentinel species (Antarctic fur seal, elephant seal, king penguin, gentoo penguin, wandering albatross) around South Georgia, including what is believed to be the first direct count of the king penguin colony at St Andrews Bay.  The methodologies and workflows developed represent a tool kit for conducting large-area long-term wildlife monitoring as part of a revised CEMP, where traditional terrestrial and aerial methods are not practical.