Becky Oskin, OurAmazingPlanet Staff Writer
Date: 22 March 2013 Time: 02:51 PM ET
Low, slow and loud — counting marine life by plane
has some drawbacks. Though scientists can cover wide swaths of ocean, engine
noise may disturb animals and the surveys always present some risk to pilots
and crew.
So some biologists are turning to less
obtrusive unmanned
aerial vehicles (UAVs) to spot species including whales, dolphins, sea
lions and penguins. From small helicopters to planes with a 10-foot (3 meters)
wingspan, the battery-powered craft could become a popular new tool.
"What makes these things so effective is they
capture a tremendous amount of information," said NOAA marine biologist
Wayne Perryman, based at the Southwest
Fisheries Science
Center in La Jolla , Calif.
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