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title: "Kite aerial photography can be used to survey albatross colonies"
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# Kite aerial photography can be used to survey albatross colonies

Karine Delord ([Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé](http://www.cebc.cnrs.fr/), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Villiers en Bois, France) and colleagues have published in the [*Journal of Field Ornithology*](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1557-9263) on using a kite to take aerial photographs of seabird colonies.  The senior author considers the technology could be used to take low-cost photographs of breeding albatrosses and surface-breeding petrels, including under windy conditions as prevail on sub-Antarctic islands.

 The paper’s abstract follows:

 “Obtaining aerial high-resolution images of bird nesting colonies using remote-sensing technology such as satellite-based remote sensing, manned aircraft, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles might not be possible for many researchers due to financial constraints.  Kite Aerial Photography (KAP) provides a possible low-cost alternative.  We collected digital images of ground-nesting seabirds (i.e., cormorants and penguins) in two different ecosystems using a kite-based platform equipped with consumer-grade digital cameras with time-lapse capability to obtain estimates of breeding population size.  KAP proved to be an efficient method for acquiring high-resolution aerial images.  We obtained images of colonies of seabirds ranging in size from hundreds to several hundreds of thousands breeding pairs during flights lasting from a few minutes up to three hours, from flat to very steep areas, and in contrasted wind conditions (from 0.5 to 6 Beaufort force).  KAP is an efficient low-cost method for acquiring high-resolution aerial images and an alternative to ground-based censuses, especially useful in rugged areas.”

 ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/I/Indian_Yellow_nosed_Albatross_Prince_Edward_Island1_by_Peter_Ryan.jpg)

 Indian Yellow-nosed Albatrosses breeding on Prince Edward Island: suitable for kite aerial photography?

 Photograph by Peter Ryan

 With thanks to Karine Delord.

 **Reference:**

 Delord, K., Roudaut, G., Guinet, C., Barbraud, C., Bertrand, S. & Weimerskirch, H. 2015.  Kite aerial photography: a low-cost method for monitoring seabird colonies.  [*Journal of Field Ornithology* 86: 173-179](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jofo.12100/abstract).

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 04 June 2015*