HOW TO: Avoid seagulls with your drone.

[MavicKhan]

I've gained a lot of valuable information from these forums, but recently I realized I haven’t contributed much myself.

This is partly due to limited time, but also, to be honest, because I often find others here to be far more knowledgeable than I am.

That said, I do have a tip I’d like to share.

I live in a coastal town with a small fishing port.

Naturally, the area is filled with seagulls, as are many other coastal locations I enjoy photographing in—most recently in Sardinia, Italy.

Initially, I used to get quite stressed whenever I flew my drone, as seagulls would immediately start circling it in a loud, menacing way whenever they detected it.

However, I eventually realized that by making a series of quick ascents (...which are incredibly fast in the latest DJI models...) I could scare the seagulls off.

It seems their "evolutionary common sense" doesn’t expect a "bird" to behave like that, with such capabilities.

Without fail, after a few of these rapid ascents, the seagulls still circle the drone, but at a much greater distance, which makes things much safer, as you’d expect.

I hope this tip can be helpful to some of you.

MK

 

[davidarmenb]

Indeed! That is also the best way to get away from a bird trying to attack your drone. Most videos show the pilot descending out of panic once they realize their drone is under attack, making them easy prey because birds can dive insanely fast.
However, no bird can ascend as quickly as drones can. Your drone will pretty much disappear from their POV and they would need to expel a lot of time and energy to gain the same elevation that took your drone two seconds to achieve.

 

[Kiwicbrthou]

Very handy to know, I’ll have to try it out on the kamikaze magpies we have over here!

 

[msinger]

Thank you for sharing @MavicKhan!

More people might find your thread if you rename the title to something like "HOW TO: Avoid seagulls with your drone".

 

[GregS]

As I started my MP v1 I noticed buzzards circling above...a lot of them. Finally just went straight up through the circle. They could care less. After my flight they were still circling, so I decended right into them. No problem. Counted 43 of them.

 

[MavicKhan]

Thank you for sharing @MavicKhan!

More people might find your threads if you rename the title to something like "HOW TO: Avoid seagulls with your drone".

Done!

MK

 

[Meta4]

However, I eventually realized that by making a series of quick ascents (...which are incredibly fast in the latest DJI models...) I could scare the seagulls off.

Unfortunately many birds don't think that way.
If you run into them, climbing only means your drone is going to take longer to get home safely.

 

[MavicKhan]

That does not seem to be a seagull.

I was refering to seagulls, specifically.

Each species has its own behaviour. If you're unfortunate enough to find a bird of prey, you might very well get your drone destroyed, no matter what you do.

MK

 

[Meta4]

That does not seem to be a seagull.
I was refering to seagulls, specifically.

Yes .. those birds aren't gulls.
But I've also been attacked by determined large gulls that wouldn't give up too.
I just haven't got photos of them.

 

[Skater]

Seagulls can be brutal. I live (and fly) in a coastal town in Northern California and cannot fly near the coast from May through October due to the nesting season. Seagulls are very territorial during that time period. They took my Phantom down several years ago. Just one of the challenges of sharing the skies.

 

[GFields]

Thanks for sharing! Good information!

 

[51 Drones]

Reflective tape also helps a lot! I have terns near my home, and ever since I put a strip of reflective tape, they don’t even come close to my drone.

 

[Rui S]

I've gained a lot of valuable information from these forums, but recently I realized I haven’t contributed much myself.

This is partly due to limited time, but also, to be honest, because I often find others here to be far more knowledgeable than I am.

That said, I do have a tip I’d like to share.

I live in a coastal town with a small fishing port.

Naturally, the area is filled with seagulls, as are many other coastal locations I enjoy photographing in—most recently in Sardinia, Italy.

Initially, I used to get quite stressed whenever I flew my drone, as seagulls would immediately start circling it in a loud, menacing way whenever they detected it.

However, I eventually realized that by making a series of quick ascents (...which are incredibly fast in the latest DJI models...) I could scare the seagulls off.

It seems their "evolutionary common sense" doesn’t expect a "bird" to behave like that, with such capabilities.

Without fail, after a few of these rapid ascents, the seagulls still circle the drone, but at a much greater distance, which makes things much safer, as you’d expect.

I hope this tip can be helpful to some of you.

MK

Just wait for the next Spring, meaning April / May until August and you will find out that your technic is not working anymore.

Now they are calmer, but when the nesting time comes, they will be back on fighting mode...

 

[tonyack]

The best strategy in case of birds attacking your drone or if you have suspicion that they might attack is to SWITCH TO S-MODE and ASCEND immediately. Then start circling around, it may scare them off as they may perceive any birds above them as predators. Of course this may not help with eagles or another kinds especially near nesting areas, but should help with pigeons or seagulls. It is also recommended to put a RED REFLECTIVE 3M tape on top of your drone as well as pieces on arms, etc. Birds are naturally scared of reflective surfaces. The more light or sun outside the better. I also put and AirTag on top of my drone and on the white side I put a smaller black sticky tape in form of circle to make the entire AirTag look like an eye.

 

[Rchawks]

Refective tape does work for scaring birds. There was a problem under the carport with birds and what they would leave behind. All we did was buy a small cheap profile of a mean owl with reflective tape hanging down. Zero problems with the bird dun after that, it's been months now.
I've had different reactions with birds, several times it was truly amazing to experience, then other times lets say not so much. They can be very aggressive when that happen's I leave. Then there's flocks.
BTW seagulls really are rats with wings, lol.

 

[riterb97]

I've gained a lot of valuable information from these forums, but recently I realized I haven’t contributed much myself.

This is partly due to limited time, but also, to be honest, because I often find others here to be far more knowledgeable than I am.

That said, I do have a tip I’d like to share.

I live in a coastal town with a small fishing port.

Naturally, the area is filled with seagulls, as are many other coastal locations I enjoy photographing in—most recently in Sardinia, Italy.

Initially, I used to get quite stressed whenever I flew my drone, as seagulls would immediately start circling it in a loud, menacing way whenever they detected it.

However, I eventually realized that by making a series of quick ascents (...which are incredibly fast in the latest DJI models...) I could scare the seagulls off.

It seems their "evolutionary common sense" doesn’t expect a "bird" to behave like that, with such capabilities.

Without fail, after a few of these rapid ascents, the seagulls still circle the drone, but at a much greater distance, which makes things much safer, as you’d expect.

I hope this tip can be helpful to some of you.

MK

I started to add a strobe light ( bright white, with a red) on top of the drone and that seemed to help for me. I must say, I have seen them circle me, but never attacked

 

[Smooth Rhythm]

Thanks for sharing; much appreciated!

 

[JimSteadman]

Very handy to know, I’ll have to try it out on the kamikaze magpies we have over here!

I just returned to the states from 'over there'. I have never been attacked by a kamikaze, but those **** magpies will target you and fly by from behind close enough to brush your ear and scare the bejesus out of you. Like bluey says - don't take your eyes off of them. They are just waiting for you to look away to launch a raid.

 

[tstr14]

I'd prefer air to air missiles.


Yes, I know they are protected but for the life of me, I don't know why. We call them flying rats.

 

[~Remy]

Indeed! That is also the best way to get away from a bird trying to attack your drone. Most videos show the pilot descending out of panic once they realize their drone is under attack, making them easy prey because birds can dive insanely fast.
However, no bird can ascend as quickly as drones can. Your drone will pretty much disappear from their POV and they would need to expel a lot of time and energy to gain the same elevation that took your drone two seconds to achieve.

Recently for me I was at max alt that I set and a huge hawk flew up to it. Lucky for me in my panic I controlled the drone and made it move abruptly towards the hawk. Which it might have taken as aggressive. So my drone was unscathed and the hawk never came back. But man. What an experience.