Thermal drone fauna detection and surveys.
Thermal drones locate warm-blooded fauna — koalas, gliders, macropods, roosting birds — from the air, at night, across terrain a ground crew would take days to cover. Fauna Spotters flies thermal drone surveys as a standalone service or paired with licensed Fauna Spotter Catcher crews on clearing programs Australia-wide.
What thermal drone surveys are used for
Thermal imaging from a drone dramatically increases detection rates for cryptic and nocturnal species compared with spotlighting alone, and creates a defensible, time-stamped record for the compliance file.
- Pre-clearance koala detection across mapped habitat
- Nocturnal surveys for gliders, possums and other arboreal mammals
- Large-area pre-clearance sweeps ahead of vegetation clearing
- Dawn and dusk fauna movement monitoring on linear infrastructure
- Post-fire, post-flood and welfare checks across inaccessible ground
Integrated with spotter catcher crews
A thermal drone finds the animal; a licensed Fauna Spotter Catcher on the ground handles it. Because we supply both, detections convert straight into safe captures and relocations without coordinating multiple contractors.
Deliverables
Each survey is delivered with georeferenced detections, thermal and visual imagery, flight logs and a survey report formatted for regulator submission.
Frequently asked questions
Are thermal drones better than ground surveys for koalas?
Published trials consistently show drone-mounted thermal imaging detects significantly more koalas than ground-based spotlighting, particularly in tall or dense canopy. We typically recommend thermal drone detection paired with ground verification by a Koala Spotter.
When are thermal drone surveys flown?
Mostly pre-dawn, dusk and at night, when the temperature difference between animals and canopy is greatest. Daytime flights are used for visual verification and mapping.
Can drone detections be used for compliance reporting?
Yes — every detection is georeferenced and time-stamped, and the survey report is formatted so it can be submitted with your pre-clearance or post-clearance documentation.