I was driving far from home, when I encountered a ravenous fiend, the enemy of the drone.




Comedy gold, with the Motor Unable to rotate warning. Contact DJI support for assistance.

It was disappointing that I wasn't running the 4K camera, because I got distracted by starting up the phone recorder.

For those non-Aussies, the Wedgetail Eagle has a wing span of around 2.5 metres, basically the same as the American Bald Eagle.

I have had a few buzz my drone, but none have actually 'attacked' the drone.

These are big eagles that will grab a rabbit or other small mammal/bird and fly off with it.

Whistling Kites live at my place all the time, and they buzz the drone. They also look very big - around 1.2m, with a tight tail. They go "p-p-p-p-pew", whereas eagles go "ka chak ka chak".

I read an article a way back about drones being used in australian mines in QLD, and Eagle attacks were a cost of business.

https://dronedj.com/2017/10/02/d ... edge-tailed-eagles/

....and I was already scared by very curious seagulls. Did the attack damage the drone in the end or was it just a temporary notification on the screen?

mucha suerte qamigo.saludos

wow.  that was very lucky.   

_SoP_ Posted at 7-15 02:39
....and I was already scared by very curious seagulls. Did the attack damage the drone in the end or was it just a temporary notification on the screen?

There was damage to one blade on the back. But by all accounts, eagles can crush up a drone. It would have come around for a second run, but I pushed the up stick, and kept running up and away in sport mode. Birds have trouble following upwards. I was surprised the drone managed to stay upright. I don't know what the eagle was doing for 2 seconds above it. When I first saw the lurch, I thought some other propeller disaster had happened.

Man, that was a narrow escape!

Zoooom Posted at 7-15 03:43
There was damage to one blade on the back. But by all accounts, eagles can crush up a drone. It would have come around for a second run, but I pushed the up stick, and kept running up and away in sport mode. Birds have trouble following upwards. I was surprised the drone managed to stay upright. I don't know what the eagle was doing for 2 seconds above it. When I first saw the lurch, I thought some other propeller disaster had happened.

Puuuh, that was luck...

Wow, that was really lucky, especially considering the size of that eagle.    I can attest to how strong they are as I've also seen them swoop down and pick up a good size rabbit.  They also have some pretty sharp talons.  Glad you were able to escape with only minor damages.

Wow, how is the drone doing?

Zoooom Posted at 7-15 03:43
There was damage to one blade on the back. But by all accounts, eagles can crush up a drone. It would have come around for a second run, but I pushed the up stick, and kept running up and away in sport mode. Birds have trouble following upwards. I was surprised the drone managed to stay upright. I don't know what the eagle was doing for 2 seconds above it. When I first saw the lurch, I thought some other propeller disaster had happened.

Just this past February, I have seen an Eagle coming from behind a fox and picking it up.. It was struggling, but still managed to fly forward until the fox did turn around and got one of the eagle leg... They both went into different way after that, but the fox was bleeding...

Sometimes it goes the other way around as well...