Eyes In the Sky! How Drones Are Changing Whale Research

Drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), are aircraft operated remotely or autonomously without a human pilot on board. In more recent years, their use in research has skyrocketed. How have drones changed how research, and what kind of research, is being conducted on whales? What have we been able to learn from whales from drones that was previously hidden from human eyes? On this episode, Dr. Holly Fearnbach, Marine Mammal Research Director at SR3 (SeaLife Response Rehabilitation and Research), discusses with us the ways drones have been, and are currently being, used in whale research. We will also discuss their limitations and benefits and potential future applications as this technology rapidly advances.