A peer-reviewed drone survey has established a contemporary nest inventory for three seabird species on King George Island in Antarctica. North Foreland’s penguin count reached a mean of 53,310 active nests in one survey. Independent observers arrived at closely matching totals, but differences in historical survey coverage and timing prevent the study from establishing a long-term population trend.
Science··Midday
Nests mapped from the air
A peer-reviewed Scientific Reports study has mapped active nests of southern giant petrels, chinstrap penguins and Antarctic shags along King George Island's northeastern coast. Katarzyna Fudala and colleagues combined broad drone reconnaissance with high-resolution colony imaging between Destruction Bay and North Foreland across breeding seasons from 2022/23 to 2025/26. The team assessed 52 image mosaics and retained 49 as suitable; detailed counting used 34 of these products.[1]
Counts refer to different survey dates
Cape Melville's Antarctic shag nest count had a highest mean of 493. At North Foreland, the equivalent maximum for southern giant petrels was 560, while one penguin census found a mean of 53,310 active nests. The dates differ, so these peaks cannot form a regional population total for one moment. Active nests were the units counted. Breeding stage, snow, failed nesting and image coverage all affect their visibility.[1]
A reproducible starting point
Independent observers' totals had coefficients of variation below one per cent in 45 of 49 survey–species comparisons, indicating close agreement. The team checked the mapped nest positions as well as totals: two similar counts can refer to different objects. Shared errors remain possible. Historical censuses differ too much in timing, coverage and counting units for a formal long-term trend estimate. Imagery and individual observer layers were prepared for reuse, with the data statement anticipating activation of a reserved dataset DOI upon public release.[1]
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