So, there I was practicing my orbits around a tree in a field. Satisfied with my distant orbit, I moved in to do a close orbit. Then suddenly, out of nowhere a red tail hawk was engaged with a couple bogeys and flew threw the tree branches. Continuing my orbit expecting to see the conclusion of the aerial combat on the other side of the tree, I did not notice them break away to my 5 o'clock. Not having visual sight of the targets I started to RTB, then again out from the sun comes the red tail at my 10 o'clock. I took evasive action and kicked in the afterburners to disengage...true story.  

AWESOME aerial combat capture. I must say You were pretty lucky you weren't included in the battle. Great video.

Wow that is crazy.  Lucky to capture that.  They were trying to drive him away.  You are very lucky your MA escaped that.  It for sure looked like the hawk was aiming for it as it's feet were expanding getting close to you.  Great footage.  

Woe Posted at 2018-6-16 19:35
AWESOME aerial combat capture. I must say You were pretty lucky you weren't included in the battle. Great video.

Thanks Woe!  Indeed I was. After the debrief I pull back to observe the hawk till bugged out of the AO.

hawks are fairly timid, more show to scare your drone away, than attack.   they will swoop but they rarely attack drones..  eagles on the other hand those are the birds i look out for... if any bird that will take your drone down intentionally, it is an eagle, not a hawk.

and size does certainly matter in the animal kingdom... a bigger drone is a lot less likely to even get challanged even for show.. like an inspire 2 probably going to deal with birds challenging you alot less than a mavic air.

SparksBird Posted at 2018-6-16 19:40
Wow that is crazy.  Lucky to capture that.  They were trying to drive him away.  You are very lucky your MA escaped that.  It for sure looked like the hawk was aiming for it as it's feet were expanding getting close to you.  Great footage.

Thanks Spark! Yeah maybe I should get some raptor decals like yours as a deterrent.

HereForTheBeer Posted at 2018-6-16 19:43
hawks are fairly timid, more show to scare your drone away, than attack.   they will swoop but they rarely attack drones..  eagles on the other hand those are the birds i look out for... if any bird that will take your drone down intentionally, it is an eagle, not a hawk.

and size does certainly matter in the animal kingdom... a bigger drone is a lot less likely to even get challanged even for show.. like an inspire 2 probably going to deal with birds challenging you alot less than a mavic air.

Thats good to know, but I wont intentionally press my luck. I like to stay whammy free.

Lovely video, but needs some combat background music.  ;)

Nice movie..

BHProductions Posted at 2018-6-16 19:42
Thanks Woe!  Indeed I was. After the debrief I pull back to observe the hawk till bugged out of the AO.

  

Great footage there, lucky it did not get you. Seems like they were hunting those smaller birds at 0:45 chasing it through the tree

Brilliant capture mate   

BHProductions Posted at 2018-6-16 19:45
Thanks Spark! Yeah maybe I should get some raptor decals like yours as a deterrent.

I really do feel that it works.  I have flown rather close a couple times to some hawks and they just fly away.  I am not saying it would work 100% of the time but feel more so with the decal than not.  There are a TON of hawks around here and have yet to even be close to an attack.  

Thanks... gives me another reason to always have the camera record running!  I live in a rural area and red tails are everywhere.  Awesome birds and hunters.  I just don't want my aircraft to be the prey!

Suren Posted at 2018-6-16 23:04
Great footage there, lucky it did not get you. Seems like they were hunting those smaller birds at 0:45 chasing it through the tree

Thank suren!  I think the little were defending against the hawk.  Their nest is probably in the vicinity. I've observed them taking on ravens of a similar size before.

SparksBird Posted at 2018-6-17 04:03
I really do feel that it works.  I have flown rather close a couple times to some hawks and they just fly away.  I am not saying it would work 100% of the time but feel more so with the decal than not.  There are a TON of hawks around here and have yet to even be close to an attack.

   

WebParrot Posted at 2018-6-17 04:25
Thanks... gives me another reason to always have the camera record running!  I live in a rural area and red tails are everywhere.  Awesome birds and hunters.  I just don't want my aircraft to be the prey!

You're welcome.  I hate when I forget to hit record lol

StanfordWebbie Posted at 2018-6-16 20:46
Lovely video, but needs some combat background music.  ;)

Thanks Webbie! I contemplated putting danger zone as the BGM.

mickongen Posted at 2018-6-16 20:50
Nice movie..

Thank you Mick!

A CW Posted at 2018-6-17 02:34
Brilliant capture mate

Thanks CW! It was quite serendipitous.

BHProductions Posted at 2018-6-17 06:26
Thanks CW! It was quite serendipitous.

The best videos and stills usually are mate. You can't plan wildlife shoots unless you're in a zoo

You did a nice job with the orbit around the tree. Very smooth.
Awesome encounter with the Hawk. Glad to see you didn't become his next victim.
After missing his last meal your drone looked like the next best thing.

A CW Posted at 2018-6-17 08:32
The best videos and stills usually are mate. You can't plan wildlife shoots unless you're in a zoo

Very true!

B1houdini Posted at 2018-6-17 08:39
You did a nice job with the orbit around the tree. Very smooth.
Awesome encounter with the Hawk. Glad to see you didn't become his next victim.
After missing his last meal your drone looked like the next best thing.

Thanks Houdini! Good for the hawk too. I'm sure the drone would have given in a case of indigestion.

Wow, that was close.

nice work!

dronto Posted at 2018-7-7 00:41
nice work!

Thank you!

This is such an awesome video.
Nice capture again buddy.

thank you so much for sharing,  now that I am filming on the beaches that is the only thing that worries me,  birds, and all kinds of them coming around too close for comfort so I bring it back at full throttle.

Amazing footage, thank you very much!

We get RT Hawks all over. They are pretty tame with drones. Just fly straight V, they don't like that and they'll leave it alone. Biggest raptors here are the turkey vultures. They get a little more brave, but like the RT's if you fly fast Vert straight up they'll stop coming around it. I've seen the vultures try to attack some drones, but most swoop at it. They are really brave though if they are nesting.

I had a fun encounter with Osprey's myself.

nice one