This study aimed to quantify the effects of helicopter operations on Antarctic wildlife, with an emphasis on determining minimum safe over-flight altitudes and landing distances for a range of species. An experimental approach was adopted whereby wildlife were exposed to helicopters either over-flying or landing at specific altitudes or distances while the behaviour, and in some cases physiology, of individual animals were recorded. Two types of helicopters were used in the study: a Sikorsky S-76 (twin engine) and a Squirrel AS350 (single engine). This metadata record relates to the responses of Adelie Penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) over a number of phases of their breeding cycle. The fields in this dataset are: Time Action Date

Creching emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) chickswere exposed to two overflights by an S-76 twin engine helicopter at 1000 m: a current operational guideline for helicopter activity in Antarctica. The flights were conducted on the same day but under different wind conditions: a morning flight with a 10 kt (18 km.hr-1) katabatic blowing perpendicular to the direction of helicopter travel and an afternoon flight with virtually no wind. Background noise levels recorded in the morning, before the helicopter flight, were significantly higher than in the afternoon, but these differences were not detectable when the helicopter was overhead. There were also no significant differences in the way chicks responded to helicopters between the morning and afternoon flight. All chicks became more vigilant when the helicopter approached and 69% either walked or ran, generally moving less than 10 m toward other chicks (i.e. not scattering). Most chicks (83%) displayed flipper-flapping, probably indicating nervous apprehension. This behaviour was seldom displayed in the absence of disturbance. Although all effects were relatively transitory, results support the introduction of more conservative guidelines for helicopter operations around breeding localities of this species. The fields in this dataset are: Time Action Date Lying Standing Walking Preening Flapping

This dataset comprises the actual video footage and audio recordings made during a number of experiments made as part of ASAC project 1148 (ASAC_1148). The primary objective was to measure the responses of Antarctic wildlife to various human disturbance stimuli. An excel spreadsheet of a catalogue of the video and audio tapes is available for download from the url given below. The video and audio tapes themselves are stored at the Australian Antarctic Division. For descriptions of (and access to) processed data see the metadata records with the following titles: Measuring the effects of human activity on Weddell Seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) Effects of helicopter operations on emperor penguin chicks Effects of helicopters on Southern Antarctic Fulmars Effects of helicopters on Antarctic wildlife Effects of human activity on Gentoo penguins on Macquarie Island Effects of human activity on King penguins on Macquarie Island Effects of human activity on Royal penguins on Macquarie Island Behavioural responses of Weddell seals to human activity. A copy of the full dataset of video and audio files, as well as another Excel spreadsheet catalogue is available for download from the provided URL. These data were digitised in 2021, and the excel spreadsheet created from the available files.