This study aimed to determine the habitat preferences of the pond turtle Emys orbicu-larisL. in Polesie National Park and assess the effectiveness of drone use across different seasons. Monitoring was conducted with three DJI drone models (Mavic Air 2, Air 2S and Air 3), which carried out surveys on 27 selected sites covering a total area of 49.73 ha, using optical cameras and orthophoto software. Turtle activity was highest in spring, especially during mating, when individ-uals are more likely to come to the surface for thermoregulation and reproduction. As temperatures rose and drought progressed, the number of sightings decreased, which was associated with the dry-ing of water bodies and a change in turtle behaviour. Most turtles were observed in sedge meadows and drainage ditches, which acted as migration corridors and places of refuge during the drought. The survey confirmed thehigh usefulness of drones in monitoring the species, especially in hard-to-reach areas