How do you guys deal with birds?

[Staz_00]

Hey guys,

As per title, How do you guys deal with birds? especially the ones that circle around your mavic pro.. I've been to multiple locations where birds (seagulls in particular) are such a pain in the butt. They circle around my mavic pro and sometimes dives towards it.

It is now something that I look out for before I launch but honestly I really miss out on great footage because of them My heart skips a beat whenever a bird dives down towards my mavic looking like they would want to attack. They do turn around but it still quite scary.

I've had a flight where I took off by the shore because the area looked clear then suddenly a flock of birds came out of nowhere (I am talking about around 20 of them) and literally started chasing my mavic. I had to abort, fly lower altitude and immediately turn around to avoid them and I mean like a HOLY CRAP kind of moment.

I was just wondering what you guys do with them, do you just fly normally or do you also watch out for them like me?

 

[waddellw]

Watch for Hawks they will attack the drone lol

I don't know how to avoid them besides some quick flying hahah

 

[Staz_00]

Watch for Hawks they will attack the drone lol

I don't know how to avoid them besides some quick flying hahah

Oh man that is an immediate no when I see one in the air haha.

 

[mitchell.atheis]

It has been said on here a few times to go higher as they can't dive upwards


I always wonder if a certain skin will scare them off.

 

[kcabpilot]

I'm pretty sure if you stand your ground (so to speak) they will back off. If not there's not much they can do without taking a good whack on foot or beak from a prop. I've taken a couple on the thumb myself and it ain't a peasant experience.

 

[Staz_00]

It has been said on here a few times to go higher as they can't dive upwards


I always wonder if a certain skin will scare them off.

That is a good point, but 100m is the highest I can go legally. and at that altitude there are still some birds that circle around.

 

[Staz_00]

I'm pretty sure if you stand your ground (so to speak) they will back off. If not there's not much they can do without taking a good whack on foot or beak from a prop. I've taken a couple on the thumb myself and it ain't a peasant experience.

That is what I thought as well. I guess i just don't want my MP to fall out of the sky due to a bird attack lol

 

[waddellw]

I'm pretty sure if you stand your ground (so to speak) they will back off. If not there's not much they can do without taking a good whack on foot or beak from a prop. I've taken a couple on the thumb myself and it ain't a peasant experience.

This works for most birds, but it only angers predatory birds and makes them attack harder. If you see a hawk or eagle it's best to avoid confrontation or land if they start circling near it.


I've only had my drone 3 weeks but the Hawks got my buddies phantom pro 1 a bunch

 

[Gray_seagull]

Use something like this to scare them, or bright color such as bright red

It works

 

[Lake_Flyer]

That is a good point, but 100m is the highest I can go legally. and at that altitude there are still some birds that circle around.

Big birds of prey can be circling even at 6000m.

Best is to avoid circling birds of prey all together. Fly somewhere else if you spot them in the area. They are incredibly territorial and can grab a Mavic without problem. The dutch Police experimented with trained eagles to grab small and medium sized (Phantom class) drones out of the sky. It worked well although they had to seize the experiment because animal rights organisations had a good lobby at the government (good thing!).

 

[Lake_Flyer]

Use something like this to scare them, or bright color such as bright red

It works

Maybe for non predators but the bigger birds of prey are very aware of their rank in the food chain. They just don't accept any competitor in their skies, regardless of color, other than their partner and offspring.

 

[Simmo]

Aww well, usually I ask if she'd like a drink, then if that works then maybe dinner....
Haven't got past that bit yet.....

 

[locoman]

Did you get a white Mavic, Maybe the sea gulls are looking for a mate.

 

[Exphantomflyer]

Hey guys,

As per title, How do you guys deal with birds

Depends if they buy me a drink im usually nice to them lol

 

[Lake_Flyer]

Depends if they buy me a drink im usually nice to them lol

Those birds are generally the best. And better one in the hand than ten in the air.

 

[kakao]

A friend of mine went on holidays, and sent me one of the drone photos taken in Macedonia.

Scary, isn't it ..?!

 

[waddellw]

There are actually tons of YouTube videos of drones getting attacked, seems super common!

 

[maverickau]

Never go down - as already mentioned the birds can swoop downwards but not upwards. For that reason, my first manoeuvre is to kick her into sport mode and go straight up. Due to the increased rpm of the motors you’ll have a higher chance of coming out on top should a bird still manage to go into your path and make contact with the blades.

 

[Lake_Flyer]

A friend of mine went on holidays, and sent me one of the drone photos taken in Macedonia.

Scary, isn't it ..?!

Wow, how beautiful these birds are. This picture alone is worth a mavic.

 

[Steven540i]

Yes ikk