Green turtles are endangered. They are under threat from hunting, overharvesting of their eggs, loss of beach nesting sites and entrapment in fishing gear.

Now, Australian researchers have started using drones to count the green turtles showing up to nest on an island in the Great Barrier Reef, and they’re getting higher, more accurate numbers.

The turtles are not out of trouble, but the drone footage is beautiful and encouraging. You can see it on CNN.