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Spark attacked by angry bees!
2288 31 2018-8-13
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SirLurksalot
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Flight distance : 137487 ft
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Hi everyone,

New Spark owner here.  Been lurking on this board for the last few weeks, so I wanted to drop in and say hello.  I have about 15 mostly trouble-free flights so far, but I did have something interesting and somewhat scary happen a few days ago.

I was flying my spark (and taking video) about 1/2 mile from my house and I lost connection to the drone.  It went into RTH mode and fairly quickly re-established a connection to the RC.  I could see it returning to home on my phone screen and since the battery was getting low anyway, I just let it continue to RTH.  At this point, I was no longer looking at my phone screen, I was looking up waiting for the Spark to appear.  Soon enough I saw it above my head at 200ft (RTH altitude) and I let it continue to land.  The Spark landed flawlessly but when I went to pick it up, I noticed something was splattered all over it.  I also noticed a single bee flying near it, but it didn't seem bothered by the Spark or me picking it up.  It wasn't until I went inside looked at my Spark more carefully and replayed the video that I saw what had happened.  A swarm of angry bees attacked my Spark!  I then realized that the angry swarm was directly above my head, albeit 200ft up!   I've since flown and had no bee issues.  Has anyone else had this happen to them before?

The Skypixel video is below.



Also, here is what the Spark looked like when I brought it inside.  If you look carefully, you can see part of a bee on the rear leg of the Spark.


Spark2.jpg
Spark1..jpg
2018-8-13
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djiuser_NuStSrDUH3OU
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Wow they were on full mode attack. Its happend to me but not that many. i bet those props chopped alot of them up lol
2018-8-13
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Warriewoodlad
First Officer
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Australia
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I had a Hubsan 507A which attracted bees regularly. There are some YouTube videos of this happening. The theory was that the Hubsan motors emitted frequencies that attracted the bees.
2018-8-13
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SirLurksalot
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djiuser_NuStSrDUH3OU Posted at 2018-8-13 11:35
Wow they were on full mode attack. Its happend to me but not that many. i bet those props chopped alot of them up lol

Yeah, they were pretty aggressive and I'm sure I thinned out the population a bit with the props!  The underside of the props were pretty gunked up with bee goo and pollen.  I should have taken a pictures of the props but I didn't think of it until I had already cleaned them.
2018-8-13
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SirLurksalot
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Warriewoodlad Posted at 2018-8-13 14:13
I had a Hubsan 507A which attracted bees regularly. There are some YouTube videos of this happening. The theory was that the Hubsan motors emitted frequencies that attracted the bees.

Interesting theory about the sound.  I wonder if the sound of the Spark motors also attract bees?  Guess I'll see if it happens again as I now know I have a bee hive fairly close to my house somewhere.
2018-8-13
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Warriewoodlad
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Australia
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The Hubsan had brushed motors and gears, so it probably generated  different frequencies to that of the Spark.

So far I haven't sliced any bees with my Spark, but I did get an interested look from a hawk.
2018-8-13
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Greg F
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Australia
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Hi and welcome to forums...

That's an awesome video..   Spark sounds like a swarm of Bees from the sound it makes.    I would imagine the real Bees might have confused it with a Enemy Queen and were attacking it.   

Edit : Lucky you got drone back and they didnt do too much damage to it.   Poor lil Bees....
2018-8-13
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Carmenvail
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United States
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Never Bees that i'm aware of but definitely a few of these guys...Barn Swallows
https://cdn.audubon.org/cdn/farfuture/jE85Z2LhPzXGMKxrQviitLmgoAO52f4d4uOw953qmgo/mtime:1422550707/sites/default/files/Barn_Swallow_c22-37-030_l_1.jpg

Too Bad for the Bees... the spark is like a blender.



2018-8-13
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embayweather
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I bet you got a real buzz from that flight!
2018-8-14
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S-e-ven
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You got a real killer, Sir. Actually, the sound of our sparks reminded me from the very beginning on a bee swarm! Perhaps the bees think that, too?
2018-8-14
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WilfredSparkman 0
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Yes I have experienced this..... On my first flight it was worrying!!
Now bees have flight paths and when you invade there flight paths they attack, and when a bee is murdered they amp up the attack!! There's blogs on this subject. All you can do is quickly fly up or down, i landed mine straight away and it was covered in bee blood!!! I felt bad. Generally a springtime problem but also summer of course!!!
2018-8-14
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DMX_MT
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The Bees just wanted to make friends with the Drone.

They all just got - BEE HEADED.

2018-8-14
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Tervist
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Carmenvail Posted at 2018-8-13 18:54
Never Bees that i'm aware of but definitely a few of these guys...Barn Swallows
https://cdn.audubon.org/cdn/farfuture/jE85Z2LhPzXGMKxrQviitLmgoAO52f4d4uOw953qmgo/mtime:1422550707/sites/default/files/Barn_Swallow_c22-37-030_l_1.jpg

Have seen a flock of those circling my Spark. Not sure what attracted them to it, the sound or the fact it was a strange looking object in the air with them. No bee encounters, though.
2018-8-14
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nixuspix
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Very interesting and informative
2018-8-14
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Blellow
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Dragonflies are interested in my spark, but smart enough to not be killed by it.
2018-8-14
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SirLurksalot
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Greg F Posted at 2018-8-13 15:51
Hi and welcome to forums...

That's an awesome video..   Spark sounds like a swarm of Bees from the sound it makes.    I would imagine the real Bees might have confused it with a Enemy Queen and were attacking it.   

Thanks Greg!  Yeah, drone was fine but dirty.  I'm the type of guy that rescues honey bees from my pool when I see them drowning, so I felt bad that I probably chopped up a bunch of them.
2018-8-14
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SirLurksalot
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Carmenvail Posted at 2018-8-13 18:54
Never Bees that i'm aware of but definitely a few of these guys...Barn Swallows
https://cdn.audubon.org/cdn/farfuture/jE85Z2LhPzXGMKxrQviitLmgoAO52f4d4uOw953qmgo/mtime:1422550707/sites/default/files/Barn_Swallow_c22-37-030_l_1.jpg

Wow, I would hate for my Spark to be attacked by even one of these birds!  I'm sure the results would not be pretty!
2018-8-14
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SirLurksalot
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S-e-ven Posted at 2018-8-14 04:32
You got a real killer, Sir. Actually, the sound of our sparks reminded me from the very beginning on a bee swarm! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1v4c0v6FoI Perhaps the bees think that, too?

Wow, you're right!  The sound IS very similar.
2018-8-14
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SirLurksalot
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WilfredSparkman 0 Posted at 2018-8-14 06:49
Yes I have experienced this..... On my first flight it was worrying!!
Now bees have flight paths and when you invade there flight paths they attack, and when a bee is murdered they amp up the attack!! There's blogs on this subject. All you can do is quickly fly up or down, i landed mine straight away and it was covered in bee blood!!!  I felt bad. Generally a springtime problem but also summer of course!!!

Flying up or down is good to know.  If this ever happens again, I'll be sure to try that.  I'm just glad the swarm didn't follow my Spark all the way to the ground.  That could have been a real Buzz kill!  
2018-8-14
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SirLurksalot
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DMX_MT Posted at 2018-8-14 07:04
The Bees just wanted to make friends with the Drone.

They all just got - BEE HEADED.

LOL!  
2018-8-14
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SirLurksalot
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nixuspix Posted at 2018-8-14 07:32
Very interesting and informative

Thanks nixuspix!
2018-8-14
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Sparky_17
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wow, that is pretty cool but to bad the bees suffered a few injuries in the process.
2018-8-14
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Northwood
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The population of honey bees in the world is dwindling, it  is a bad thing, they are responsible for so much pollination, something which humans are so unaware of.  Sad for these guys for sure.  I did some bee-keeping when I was in my teens, learned about their flight paths, and they are quite territorial around their hives.
2018-8-14
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Carmenvail
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DMX_MT Posted at 2018-8-14 07:04
The Bees just wanted to make friends with the Drone.

They all just got - BEE HEADED.

i see what you did there
2018-8-14
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Carmenvail
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Tervist Posted at 2018-8-14 07:32
Have seen a flock of those circling my Spark. Not sure what attracted them to it, the sound or the fact it was a strange looking object in the air with them. No bee encounters, though.

Yes same here, they are brave enough to come in for a close up inspection, and agile enough to avoid you in sport mode. Barn swallows move a lot like the drone they have sharp movements. Saying that they can change direction RAPIDLY in flight would almost be an understatement. I have observed  them come in then circle it a bit at close range then they fly off often repeating the behavior several times. I have never seen one come in contact with my drone but I have seen them come in CLOSE. It visually appears as they are being initially agressive with the Spark, leading with their tallons and retreating just prior to contact, then go back several times just to make sure its not a threat. The encounter lasts only seconds and is useually at a low altitudes my encounters have been between 20 & 80' at or just under tree-top level.  

2018-8-14
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Carmenvail
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Northwood Posted at 2018-8-14 11:29
The population of honey bees in the world is dwindling, it  is a bad thing, they are responsible for so much pollination, something which humans are so unaware of.  Sad for these guys for sure.  I did some bee-keeping when I was in my teens, learned about their flight paths, and they are quite territorial around their hives.

Yep.... no Bees no People.
2018-8-14
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SirLurksalot
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Northwood Posted at 2018-8-14 11:29
The population of honey bees in the world is dwindling, it  is a bad thing, they are responsible for so much pollination, something which humans are so unaware of.  Sad for these guys for sure.  I did some bee-keeping when I was in my teens, learned about their flight paths, and they are quite territorial around their hives.

I agree completely!  I felt bad that I likely killed so many bees that day...  
2018-8-14
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Greg F
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SirLurksalot Posted at 2018-8-14 09:55
Thanks Greg!  Yeah, drone was fine but dirty.  I'm the type of guy that rescues honey bees from my pool when I see them drowning, so I felt bad that I probably chopped up a bunch of them.

oh well not like you could see them that high...
2018-8-14
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mhw#209
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Wow, thats crazy!
2018-8-14
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jacksonnai
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wow hahaha some of them get killed by the props
2018-8-15
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polish_pat
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This is hilarious. My Tello got attacked by bats, but i was usuing the extender and flying around 100ft up and the video was choppy and couldnt make out anything else but a black spot flying in the cameras angle, but from below i clearely saw bats...so funny how these drones give us a broader view of a world we rarely get to see and that lives just above our heads, a world where intruders get sent back home quickly...i would have been hysterical if my tello got attacked. The spark i just got had been the subject of bird curiosity but i guess they got scared from the sound it was making
2018-8-15
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A CW
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What a mess lol
2018-8-17
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