Per UFO lore, the variety of craft, flight characteristics, inhabitants, etc. indicate a variety of species conducting 'scientific' studies, making Earth comparable to a sort of wildlife sanctuary. Quite the opposite of seeking to make contact, ET's are indifferent or reclusive, and contact is generally avoided except to take samples, to conduct tests, or to send a message.

The biggest surprise is that for all the physical evidence left behind, no extraterrestrial biological species have been noted or have become established. Given the history of how humans have unintentionally spread assorted pathogens or other species, it's hard to imagine the number and variety of extraterrestrials coming and going without accidentally contaminating the biosphere, now or in the past. Perhaps we are all made of exactly the same stuff, DNA, RNA, etc because it gets spread around? Or, the visitors have perfected the prevention of contamination?

It is hard to reconcile the uniform genetics of Earth life with the notion that multiple species are visiting.

On the other hand, UFO lore contains various mentions of those who encounter crashes or ET as perishing from illness shortly thereafter (Sverlovsk Midget, Coyame Mexico, and Varginha)

Why do people automatically equate UFOs with intelligent space aliens? 99% of UFOs are either proven as outright fraud or are eventually explained. Just because the Navy says, "Sure as shit, we have no clue!" doesn't mean that it's Klaatu in his Jupiter 8 spacecraft who is from Andromeda and arrived via the 238 Wormhole Express.

(And DAYUM, does he ever have to go to the bathroom!)

I would not be surprised if there was higher/smarter life forms monitoring the children on earth. Certainly there is a lot of evidence to indicate something is out there, I guess I'm just sorta disappointed I was never contacted.

They are collecting history before we blow ourselves up.

The one thing these are almost certainly not is manned (or even remotely piloted) craft from some other civilization. It's just too damn far, and to make it worth the trip, to then hover mysteriously over vacant areas of ocean, instead of contacting someone like Stephen Hawking or the UN and announcing their presence?

The most likely explanation is that someone's experimental aircraft are where they're not supposed to be, and they're having their pictures taken.

Oh, so that explains it. UAP’s.