So I went on a trip with my partner’s family and decided to fly my drone for the first time in a while. The place we’re staying at is by a lake, and I wanted to get some nice shots. Everything was going great, and I got a few cool videos.
While I was showing the drone’s live view to everyone, we saw some birds zip across the screen. I joked, “Wow, that was close… maybe I should move it.”
Next thing we knew, we looked up, and there was a huge flock of birds swarming the drone. Two of them hit it, and down it went… straight into the lake.
That was the last I saw of my drone. Lesson learned… birds and drones don’t mix. Has anyone else had this happen?
I had a similar experience flying my drone in the city center. I must have disturbed some nesting birds because suddenly, I felt like I was in a war movie dodging seagulls doing dive-bomb attacks on me.
It depends on the birds, really. Some don’t care much about drones. If one starts acting interested, a good tip is to hover in place. It makes you seem less like another bird, and they might leave you alone.
If you notice birds around, try flying up higher. It uses more battery, but it can make birds less likely to bother you since they don’t want to waste energy chasing you.
Also, in most places (even though not everyone does it), having someone watch the drone’s line of sight can help you avoid situations like this before they happen.
Sam said:
Try putting strips of red reflective tape or a flashing strobe on your drone. It can make a big difference.
I can vouch for this! I’ve covered my DJI drones in red reflective tape, and while birds might circle and squawk a bit, they usually leave it alone quickly. It really works, though it might be a bit late for the person who posted this…
