The 2025 International Conference on Drones and Unmanned Systems (DAUS 2025) highlighted the rapid advancements in drone technology and the transformative role of AI-driven automation. As drones become more sophisticated, AI enhances their autonomy, precision, and efficiency in applications like wildlife monitoring, infrastructure management, and security. This conference united experts, researchers, and industry leaders to explore innovations in real-time data analysis, predictive modeling, and adaptive flight planning, showcasing how AI improves decision-making and operational effectiveness. DAUS 2025 also addressed regulatory challenges, training, and ethical considerations, ensuring responsible deployment of unmanned systems. By fostering collaboration across disciplines, the event accelerated the development of smarter, safer, and more efficient drones, advancing their integration into diverse fields while promoting sustainability and innovation.

As dedicated members of The Wildlife Society (TWS), it was an honor for all to be invited as speakers at the inaugural International Conference on Drones and Unmanned Systems (DAUS 2025) in Granada, Spain. As an international conference, 41 countries were represented among conference attendees. The Wildlife Society is a professional organization dedicated to advancing wildlife conservation through science, education, and collaboration among researchers, managers, and policymakers. Within TWS, the Drone Working Group focuses on the innovative use of drone technology in wildlife research and conservation, providing a platform for professionals to share best practices, explore new applications, and promote ethical and effective deployment of drones in ecological studies.

As part of the special session on “Drone Applications for Wildlife Ecology,” chaired by Rick Spaulding and David Bird, a range of fascinating presentations were shared with attendees:

Rick Spaulding’s keynote addresss explored the challenges and opportunities of using drones in wildlife ecology. It highlighted key issues, including technical advancements, regulatory concerns, and minimizing impacts on wildlife. Effective communication among researchers, government agencies, and private sectors is crucial for improving drone operations, fostering technological innovations, and promoting ethical practices. Professional societies like The Wildlife Society play a vital role in knowledge-sharing, ensuring drones are used efficiently for conservation, research, and management while mitigating potential risks to wildlife.

David Bird’s presentation traced the evolution of drone use in wildlife research and conservation over the past 15 years. Drones offer a safer, cost-effective, and less intrusive alternative to traditional aircraft. Their applications range from monitoring bird nests and tracking wildlife to mapping habitats and detecting animals with advanced sensors. With growing scientific interest, researchers are also studying drone-related wildlife disturbances to promote responsible use. The presentation highlighted key successes, challenges, and emerging opportunities in the field.

Frederique Tremblay’s presentation explored the benefits and challenges of using drones in wildlife studies. Drones provide a cost-effective, accessible alternative to ground surveys and manned aircraft, enabling broader data collection while improving researcher safety. Their applications range from wildlife monitoring to disease control. However, species-specific stress responses and flight planning complexities highlight the need for ethical, tailored approaches. The presentation encouraged dialogue on balancing technological advancements with responsible wildlife research and conservation practices.

Gina Lonati’s presentation highlighted how drones have transformed cetacean research by providing non-invasive, high-resolution data on whale, dolphin, and porpoise behavior, health, and habitat use. With increasing affordability and diverse applications, UAVs offer unique advantages over traditional methods. However, challenges like battery life, weather conditions, and at-sea operations remain. The presentation reviewed key advancements, including UAV-based infrared thermography, and explored future possibilities for improving research, conservation, and public engagement with marine species.

Daniel McCraine’s presentation explores the use of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) with drones to classify invasive mammals on islands, improving detection beyond traditional RGB and infrared methods. By analyzing spectral signatures, HSI can identify animals regardless of shape, overcoming previous limitations. His talk highlighted machine learning models, dimensionality reduction techniques, and potential sensor advancements. Challenges include spectral variability and shading effects. Future research aims to refine classification methods and assess cost-effective applications for conservation efforts.

Sean Hogan’s presentation emphasized the importance of drone data management, processing, and analysis over hardware specifications. Using ecological research from California and Costa Rica, he outlined best practices for organizing, analyzing, and sharing drone data. He highlighted challenges in workflow, storage, and visualization while sharing lessons from projects on habitat research, wildfire recovery, invasive species, and climate impacts. The talk underscored efficient data handling strategies, including standardized workflows, quality control, and proper storage solutions.

Michael Shafer’s presentation explored the development of purpose-built drones for wildlife radio telemetry. While GPS and satellite tags aid large-species tracking, smaller species rely on low-power VHF radio tags, which pose localization challenges due to transmission limitations and environmental interference. His UAV-RT system integrates a software-defined radio and specialized antenna to enhance tracking accuracy. The talk highlighted RF design considerations, noise reduction strategies, and testing results that optimize drone-based telemetry performance for wildlife research.

Craig Gibson presented on the innovative use of drone technology for monitoring large non-breeding aggregations of birds in dense and urban environments. His presentation highlighted case studies, including the renowned winter crow roost in Lawrence, MA,  showcasing best practices for using RGB, IR, and thermal drone cameras to gather critical data with minimal disturbance. Craig’s expertise in avian research and drone applications aligned with the conference’s broader focus on leveraging autonomous systems and AI for avian research and other advancements. Through his participation, he aims to foster greater collaboration among wildlife biologists in academic, government, and private sectors, promoting responsible and effective drone-based research methodologies in conservation and urban wildlife management.