Wildlife Drone Survey Checklist: Everything to Consider Before You Fly

As the use of drones in ecology and wildlife management continues to grow, more organisations and individuals are looking to incorporate the technology into their surveys. However, successful wildlife drone surveys require far more than simply flying a drone. Careful planning, appropriate equipment, an understanding of wildlife behaviour and compliance with aviation regulations are all essential to collecting reliable data while minimising disturbance to animals.

To help those planning their own surveys, we've put together this practical Wildlife Drone Survey Checklist. Whether you're an ecologist, land manager, conservation organisation or drone operator, this guide covers the key considerations before heading into the field and provides a useful reference to help ensure your surveys are safe, efficient and effective.

Photo 1 - drone operator setting up drone before a flight.

1. Define the Survey Objectives

Before selecting a drone or planning a flight, clearly identify the purpose of the survey.

Consider:

• Which species are you surveying?

• Is the objective to estimate abundance, distribution or monitor behaviour?

• Are repeat surveys required?

• What outputs are expected (maps, imagery, reports)?

A well-defined objective determines every stage of the survey process.

2. Obtain Permissions

Ensure all necessary permissions are in place before arriving on site.

This may include:

• Landowner permission

• Estate or forestry manager approval

• Access permissions

• Permissions for protected sites where required

• Airspace approvals if operating within restricted airspace

Good communication with landowners also helps minimise disruption to ongoing land management activities.

3. Review Airspace Restrictions

Always review current airspace information before each flight.

Check for:

• Flight Restriction Zones (FRZs)

• Temporary restrictions

• NOTAMs

• Controlled airspace

• Nearby airports, aerodromes or helicopter routes

A safe survey starts with understanding the surrounding airspace.

4. Check the Weather

Weather has a significant influence on both flight safety and survey quality.

Monitor:

• Wind speed

• Rain

• Fog

• Temperature

• Visibility

• Cloud cover

For thermal wildlife surveys, early morning or late evening often provides the greatest temperature difference between animals and their surroundings, improving detection rates.

5. Select the Appropriate Equipment

Different surveys require different equipment.

Typical considerations include:

• Drone platform including thermal, wide and zoom camera

• Spare batteries

• Memory cards

• Landing pad

• Remote controller

6. Complete Equipment Checks

Before departure, inspect all equipment for damage or defects.

Check:

• Battery health

• Propellers

• Camera lenses

• Firmware updates

• Controller functionality

• Check any damage to drone body, motors etc.

Simple pre-flight checks can prevent costly delays in the field.

7. Plan the Flight

Careful flight planning improves both efficiency and data quality.

Consider:

• Flight altitude

• Speed

• Image overlap

• Flight lines

• Launch and landing locations

• Return to home point (RTH)

• Emergency landing areas

Consistent flight parameters are particularly important when comparing repeat surveys over time.

8. Minimise Wildlife Disturbance

Wildlife welfare should always remain the highest priority.

Before flying:

• Assess animal behaviour (if seen before flight).

• Avoid repeated overflights.

• Maintain appropriate distances.

• Consider breeding or nesting seasons.

• Adapt operations if signs of disturbance are observed.

• Fly with smooth and deliberate input to avoid erratic movements and reduce noise and speed.

Drone surveys should provide valuable ecological information while minimising impacts on the species being monitored.

9. Carry Out Dynamic Risk Assessments

Conditions can change rapidly once on site.

Review:

• Public access

• Livestock - be particularly wary of pregnant livestock and horses

• Vehicles

• Power lines

• Trees

• Terrain

• Weather changes

Update your risk assessment whenever circumstances change.

10. Prepare for Emergencies

Every survey should include contingency planning.

Ensure you have:

• Emergency procedures (lone working, fail to safe system)

• Lost link procedures

• Battery failure procedures

• First aid equipment

• Contact numbers

• Site access information

Preparation helps reduce risks and allows issues to be managed quickly and safely.

Photo 2 - Drone pilot launching a drone after carrying out checks.

Final Thoughts

Successful wildlife drone surveys begin long before the drone leaves the ground. Careful planning, appropriate equipment, robust risk management and a clear understanding of the survey objectives all contribute to collecting accurate, repeatable and reliable ecological data.

Whether you're surveying deer, monitoring protected species or assessing habitats, following a structured checklist helps maximise data quality while ensuring safe and responsible drone operations.

At BH Wildlife Consultancy, our experienced team provides professional wildlife drone surveys across the UK and Europe, supporting conservation organisations, forestry managers, landowners and ecological consultants with high-quality aerial survey solutions.

If you're planning a wildlife survey and would like to discuss how drone technology could support your project, we'd be happy to help.