Bird Attacks

General Drone Discussion
1

Hi everyone

I had a flock of birds (no idea what type) swarm my drone and continue to go after it for what seemed like minutes yesterday. (Probably was seconds :joy:)

Is there any truth in the ‘covering your drone in red reflective tape’ to scare the birds off?

Thanks

Stephen

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2

Flourescent orange tape worked for me :slight_smile:

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3

Thanks Martin :blush:

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4

Depends what type of birds…. But I can categorically tell you that after lighting my drone up with such fluorescent tape, Oystercatchers didn’t give a flying f!*k (pardon the pun) and still went for it.

Don’t rely on such tape being a proper deterrent against every bird in the sky.

5

Oystercatchers do look like bas****s don’t they!

Seagulls have seemed to also get angry when I was in Fleetwood. Thanks for letting me know, I guess there is no fool proof deterrent.

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6

Interestingly I’ve found that black headed gulls are very chilled out with drones. But Oystercatchers are nasty little buggers who are not stupid either and will attack in groups. I sadly encounter them very often and try my best to avoid them at all costs.

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7

Definitely will avoid too from now on!!! :smile:

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8

Well, I’ve just discovered that nightshift seagulls are just as argumentative as dayshift ones :thinking::flushed:

9

Syntego Solid Foil Holographic Glitter Effect Washi Tape Decorative Self Adhesive Masking Tape 15mm x 5m (Red) seems to be the one on Amazon

10

Since wrapping mine in fluorecent orange the gulls seem to keep their distance, but the oyster catchers? No chance!!! Most aggressive birds I’ve come across when flying.

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11

And the noisiest… You’ll hear that very loud peep-ing noise before you see them.

12

I thought herring gulls were bad, but oyster catchers on the coast are barstuards. The best action I’ve found is…

In an emergency call. 999… I mean switch into sports mode and go UP

Or try to figure out where the nesting site is by watching em, landing, and when said feathered friends have fooked off have another go. If your toooo near the nesting site there gonna harass yer all day long.

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13

Take it from me who fly’s out to sea, you’ll find them off the coast as well in numbers. I had a close encounter call with a number of them at least a mile out. They don’t necessarily loiter around their nesting sites all the time.

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14

Happened to me a few times in Woodbridge, I’d take off then hear the Oyster catcher taking off across the Deben estuary. A very distinctive call, shouldn’t take long before you recognise it before instantly landing!

“CURSES, here they come!”

15

I’ve just added the 3M red reflective tape to mine, will see how I go next time out.

16

Won’t make any difference to Oystercatchers…Been there, tried it and I still went into sports mode. :joy:

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17

I have been flying all day with the red reflective tape on. In the city centre, I saw that seagulls circled again but didn’t directly go near it. Unsure as to whether it’s effective or not.

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