... get seen by so few people, especially in this day and age of small
instant cameras in every device?

And this quote from the article:

"The sightings come days after reports that scientists have discovered outside our solar system an Earth-like planet capable of supporting extraterrestrial life."

There actually is a likely connection between the two, but not the
one some people would like to think.

When alien life is confirmed, I guarantee there will be a flood of UFO reports.
Note the UFO "flap" of 1952 over Washington, D.C., which coincided with the
release of the SF film The Day the Earth Stood Still - and that was just a film.