Birds

[Tlaw]

Hey Guys,

How many of you rock reflective tape to discourage birds?....Ive only had crows/ravens check me out a few times and usually a loud whistle sent them packing.

Just curious ...all feedback is welcome

 

[mavic3usa]

I just ignore birds.

 

[hank970]

My Air 3 camera has recorded two close encounters with swallows (species unknown), both at about 200 feet aloft, but no contact in either instance. Have there been other flybys that the camera didn't record? Red-tailed hawks, ravens, and vultures apparently couldn't care less.

 

[BlueHeeler]

The only bird that I have to avoid are those huge turkey vultures, they just glide slowly around in circles,
until they detect something dead below.

 

[AMann]

I have red and white reflective tape all over my drone for visibility- especially if it goes down as it would be easy to see with a spotlight. I also used it as part of my nighttime flight waiver back when FAA required one. But birds won’t leave it alone either before and after I put the tape on- the best bet is to avoid places where or when they are nesting, springtime and early summer especially.

 

[MS Coast]

Hey Guys,

How many of you rock reflective tape to discourage birds?....Ive only had crows/ravens check me out a few times and usually a loud whistle sent them packing.

Just curious ...all feedback is welcome

There's no evidence that reflective tape scares birds away. Only social media posts and rumor say it does. Bottles of water don't scare flies or dogs with full bladders, either.

There is an occasional problem with a bird actually striking drones, but most "attacks" aren't actual attacks and don't involve contact. Attacks by trees and powerlines vastly outnumber those by birds.

Birds are generally indifferent to drones or frightened away by them if they come too close. The various species of swallows and martins seem to be curious about drones and will often fly near them for quite a few minutes. I once had 8 or 10 circulating inside a 40 foot radius sphere around the Air 2S.

Of course, there's a need for common sense around bird nests, both for drone safety and the sake of the birds. Some species can be justifiably aggressive if you stray too close. Oystercatchers, mockingbirds, and terns are good examples.

 

[Cafguy]

Reflective tape won't work Birds that are attacking dont care about that and besides


Just fly upwards as fast as possible and then fly away.

 

[Gagey52]

Here in the NT we have plenty of forktail kites that are a pain especially when you’re trying to fly a grid.
Has any anyone tried using a flashing light on the top of the body?
Regards
Gagey

 

[Dan'sUavTech]

Personally, in my experience, the way to get out of a bird's way is to full throttle it upwards. Birds can't fly vertical.

 

[Cafguy]

I think the Reflective tape "thing" comes from the little dots you put on your glass doors to prevent birds from hitting them Those work but the birds aernt attacking the door when they go for a drone its a territorial thing.

 

[AMann]

Personally, in my experience, the way to get out of a bird's way is to full throttle it upwards. Birds can't fly vertical.

But they can fly vertically. You are right though, flying straight up is a good evasive maneuver, but they probably are not as fast as a drone flying vertically unless it’s a hummingbird- they are hella fast in any direction, especially while doing their U-shaped courtship and territorial flying displays- oh, and they will attack a drone also!

 

[Rchawks]

There must be something wrong with me . I’ve always been just the opposite when it comes to flying and birds.

 

[Rchawks]

This one was attacking me.

 

[Meta4]

Personally, in my experience, the way to get out of a bird's way is to full throttle it upwards. Birds can't fly vertical.

You haven't had to deal with determined birds that are intent on doing damage to your drone.
If you ever do engage in evasive action with birds that are serious, you'll learn that climbing only means you have put your drone further from safety and will be exposed to attack for longer.

 

[Dan'sUavTech]

You haven't had to deal with determined birds that are intent on doing damage to your drone

Recently a seagull went for my phantom, and flying up was all that worked. What else do you do? CSC? What do you do? Have you experienced a bird attack? I also had another one with my drone about 5 years ago- vertical only worked, nothing else. Not ideal, though.

 

[Dan'sUavTech]

Hey Guys,

How many of you rock reflective tape to discourage birds?....Ive only had crows/ravens check me out a few times and usually a loud whistle sent them packing.

Just curious ...all feedback is welcome

Unfortunately, reflective tape does nothing to defend against birds. But it does make the drone look kind of, well, used.

 

[Aerophile]

Oh I've definitely had birds come after my drone, and they were quite determined and aggressive. Had this happen in Shetland quite a bit. Going straight up does help but it doesn't take long for them to spiral up and keep going at it. Gotta drop out of "Cine" mode and go away at top speed. Some kind of smallish, white seabird, possible a kind of gull but I'm no bird expert.

 

[GeorgiaPI]

This one was attacking me. View attachment 187624

A Kestril. Were you near the nest?

 

[AMann]

Hah, so you think that little kestrel, those swallows, the turkey vultures and my humming birds are bad for drones? Our Australian members are probably laughing at us right now because none of those stand up to their wedge-tailed eagles. They’ve been known to attack large UAV’s, paragliders and even helicopters!

Wedge-tailed eagles winning war of the skies against drones

Unmanned aerial vehicles become unlikely prey for wedge-tailed eagles in Western Australia's Goldfields, costing a mining giant more than $100,000 to replace its newest surveying tool.

www.abc.net.au

…and people as well!

Eagle stood down after attack on boy

A Horsham woman's photograph of a wedge-tailed eagle attacking a boy at an Alice Spring wildlife park has made headlines around the world.

www.abc.net.au

 

[glocke12]

I just ignore birds.

Birds aren't real