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Short-Term Exposure To Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Does Not Alter Stress Responses In Breeding Tree Swallows, Bradley D. Scholten, Abigail R. Beard, Hyeryeong Choi, Dena M. Baker

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Recent studies suggest that visual and acoustic anthropogenic disturbances can cause physiological stress in animals. Human-induced stress may be particularly problematic for birds as new technologies, such as drones, increasingly invade their low-altitude air space. Although professional and recreational drone usage is increasing rapidly, there is little information on how drones affect avian behavior and physiology. We examined the effects of drone activity on behavior and physiology in adult, box-nesting tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor). Specifically, we monitored bird behavior during drone flights and in response to a control object and measured telomere lengths and corticosterone levels as indicators of longer-term …