Due to the remote location of colonies of Antarctic shags (Phalacrocorax (atriceps) bransfieldensis) in Antarctica, there is only sparse data on the abundance of this species. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) survey for known and unknown Antarctic shag colonies along the coasts of Nelson Island and western King George Island, Antarctica, was conducted in December 2016. Four colonies, one of them previously unknown, were detected. For the first time since the 1980s, the total population size of the colonies in that area was determined. A comparison with previous estimates revealed evidence of a population increase by a factor of 2.86. To support future survey campaigns, several characteristic features of Antarctic shag colonies, nests and individuals in aerial imagery were identified. This makes possible more reliable detection and determination of population size in Antarctic shag colonies. These characteristic features were compared with those of chinstrap penguin colonies (Pygoscelis antarcticus) because these species often overlap spatially and are difficult to distinguish. In addition, the optimal weather conditions and flight parameters for an aerial survey were specified.

中文翻译：

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在南极洲南设得兰群岛通过无人驾驶飞行器 (UAV) 评估南极粗毛群落

由于南极粗毛殖民地的偏远位置（喙嘴鱼(股四头肌)布兰斯菲尔德) 在南极洲，关于这个物种的丰度只有稀少的数据。2016 年 12 月，对南极洲纳尔逊岛和乔治王岛西部沿岸已知和未知的南极粗毛群落进行了一次无人驾驶飞行器 (UAV) 调查。发现了四个群落，其中一个是以前未知的。自 1980 年代以来，首次确定了该地区殖民地的总人口规模。与先前估计的比较显示人口增加了 2.86 倍的证据。为了支持未来的调查活动，确定了航拍图像中南极粗毛群落、巢穴和个体的几个特征。这使得更可靠地检测和确定南极粗毛群体的种群规模成为可能。南极鱼尾藻) 因为这些物种在空间上经常重叠并且难以区分。此外，还规定了航测的最佳天气条件和飞行参数。