Abstract
Data collection of the effects of sound on free-swimming baleen whales can be challenging. Monitoring subsurface behavioral responses, coincident with the timing of sound exposure, requires attachment of biologging devices which is often a rate limiting step for opportunistic observations of the response to activities in the environment or as part of planned behavioral response studies. As part of a collaborative research study on Wildlife and Offshore Wind, our team collected data from fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) in the wind energy development regions south of Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts, USA. Using an uncrewed aerial system (UAS) enabled remote deployment of suction cup acoustic biologging tags on these highly maneuverable animals without needing to make close approaches with the research vessel. À total of 28 tags were deployed, with 17 tags remaining attached to the whales between 10 minutes - 19 hours. The spatial de-coupling of the research vessel from the tagging processed enabled highly efficient tag deployments. The UAS platform enabled additional data collection include high resolution video of behaviors and behavioral associations, photo identification images, photogrammetry images for body size and body condition assessment, and remote collection of exhalations for stress and sex hormone assessment. This presentation will highlight the advantages and challenges of using these versatile platforms for data collection from species that are difficult to approach for tag deployment with previously utilized methods.