Oh no, you're thinking, yet another cookie pop-up. Well, sorry, it's the law. We measure how many people read us, and ensure you see relevant ads, by storing cookies on your device. If you're cool with that, hit “Accept all Cookies”. For more info and to customize your settings, hit “Customize Settings”.

Review and manage your consent

Here's an overview of our use of cookies, similar technologies and how to manage them. You can also change your choices at any time, by hitting the “Your Consent Options” link on the site's footer.

Manage Cookie Preferences
  • These cookies are strictly necessary so that you can navigate the site as normal and use all features. Without these cookies we cannot provide you with the service that you expect.

  • These cookies are used to make advertising messages more relevant to you. They perform functions like preventing the same ad from continuously reappearing, ensuring that ads are properly displayed for advertisers, and in some cases selecting advertisements that are based on your interests.

  • These cookies collect information in aggregate form to help us understand how our websites are being used. They allow us to count visits and traffic sources so that we can measure and improve the performance of our sites. If people say no to these cookies, we do not know how many people have visited and we cannot monitor performance.

See also our Cookie policy and Privacy policy.

This article is more than 1 year old

Bird of HEY.... that's MY DRONE! Hawk attacks geek's quadcopter in nature v machine clash

This sky ain't big enough for the both of us

Vid A man in the Boston area of the United States has captured remarkable footage of a hawk strike – at the expense of his quadcopter drone.

Christopher Schmidt said he was flying his hobby craft in Cambridge earlier this week when a hawk began to circle. Schmidt, who equipped the quadcopter with a GoPro camera, said he powered down the craft's propellers in order to avoid injuring the bird when it became clear that nature and machine were going to clash.

Click to play ... Hitchcock would be proud

The hawk then struck, felling the copter in a single strike. Not, however, before the craft's camera caught some dramatic, up-close and personal footage of the bird of prey descending and swooping, talons-first at the mid-air droid.

The video has since become a hit on YouTube, and Schmidt said he will donate half of any ad revenues he receives to the Massachusetts Audubon Society. Both bird and craft were unharmed.

In summary, you can add hawks to the list of things to steer your quadcopter clear of.

The small, lightweight robo-whirligigs-of-the-sky have become increasingly popular with hobbyists, and when equipped with cameras they can capture dramatic views of the landscape. Drones, flying below the FAA-mandated 400 feet altitude, have shot video of Apple's massive new headquarters and scoped out Richard Branson's private island. ®

Similar topics

Similar topics

Similar topics

TIP US OFF

Send us news


Other stories you might like