Drones and deep learning produce accurate and efficient monitoring of large-scale seabird colonies

Population monitoring of colonial seabirds is often complicated by the large size of colonies, remote locations, and close inter- and intra-species aggregation. While drones have been successfully used to monitor large inaccessible colonies, the vast amount of imagery collected introduces a data analysis bottleneck. Convolutional neural networks (CNN) are evolving as a prominent means for object detection and can be applied to drone imagery for population monitoring. In this study, we explored the use of these technologies to increase capabilities for seabird monitoring by using CNNs to detect and enumerate Black-browed Albatrosses (Thalassarche melanophris) and Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes c. chrysocome) at one of their largest breeding colonies, the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands. Our results showed that these techniques have great potential for seabird monitoring at significant and spatially complex colonies, producing accuracies of correctly detecting and counting birds at 97.66% (Black-browed Albatrosses) and 87.16% (Southern Rockhopper Penguins), with 90% of automated counts being within 5% of manual counts from imagery. The results of this study indicate CNN methods are a viable population assessment tool, providing opportunities to reduce manual labor, cost, and human error. LAY SUMMARY: We tested the viability of using deep learning coupled with drone imagery to monitor Black-browed Albatrosses and Southern Rockhopper Penguins. Many seabird colonies at the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands are large and remote, presenting challenges for long-term monitoring. We used convolutional neural networks to enumerate both species from drone imagery and compared automated counts to manual counts. Our results produced high accuracies and low percent difference with manual counts. Deep learning coupled with drone imagery shows great potential for the future of seabird monitoring, particularly in large and spatially complex colonies.

Duke Scholars

Author David William Johnston Marine Science and Conservation