360 photo being chased by a Hawk

[mjbok]

This was actually done with a Theta V camera attached to an H, but I thought it was interesting to post here.

This was from an H, but not with H equipment (or at least camera). About 9 months ago I wanted to toy with the idea of taking 360 photos and videos. I have a "spare" H that literally had never been flown and was going to use that for this project. I had a Gear 360 and bought an extra mounting plate for the H and made a frankenmount so I could attach the camera. It wasn't pretty and it wouldn't be anything like gimbal stabilized, but just wanted to try it.

First time I went out to do it I forgot to attach the camera so I didn't do it. I flew the bird just to make sure it wouldn't be a problem flying blind, but no pictures or video. Second time I went out I forgot props. At that point I just forgot about it.

A few months later I bought a better 360 camera, a Theta V for a project I was doing for a house build. Fast forward a few more months until this weekend. Weather was nice (if a bit windy) and I had no "work" to do drone wise so I figured I would try it out.

First time I went out I got some good pictures, but forgot to take the landing gear up (at this point I'm feeling stupid) and video didn't start for some reason. The camera is controlled by a phone wifi connection so you have to bring the drone back down, reconnect and change settings and it didn't work.

At this point I'm really ready to get this done as a proof of concept. I go up a second time, start video, take a few minutes of video flying at about 150 feet. Bring the bird back down, set it to take a picture on a 5 second interval. Take it back up. At this point I see a hawk circling. Come back down. Hawk disappears. Go back up. Hawk comes back, more aggressively circling. Back down. Hawk gone. Back up. Hawk back. Land.

Looked at the pictures. Way better than I thought. Looked at the video in VR (HTC Vive). Not balanced, some shudder, but wow! I don't have issues with VR and vertigo, but it was very intense and the sense of motion was incredible.

Attached is a single pic, but you can see the hawk that I was referencing.

Note: the pictures had to have the metadata edited to view in VR because they were upside down. The video did not, which I thought was odd.

 

[Jagerbomb52]

Funny you posted this today. I went out this morning to burn off a couple of batteries from my Anafi down at the river by my house. I was just going to do a 360 pano at about 200 Alt. There is a island in the middle of the river and crows and seagulls hang out there. I just got up to 200 feet and out of one of the trees this bald eagle comes out and starts to circle the Anafi. I didn't waist any time landing and considered myself lucky to have gotten down with out him snatching the little Anafi out of the sky

 

[Ansia]

Funny you posted this today. I went out this morning to burn off a couple of batteries from my Anafi down at the river by my house. I was just going to do a 360 pano at about 200 Alt. There is a island in the middle of the river and crows and seagulls hang out there. I just got up to 200 feet and out of one of the trees this bald eagle comes out and starts to circle the Anafi. I didn't waist any time landing and considered myself lucky to have gotten down with out him snatching the little Anafi out of the sky

You should have gone higher and attacked the eagle (not actually hitting him), but enough to scare him away. In the bird world, the higher bird is the predator and the lower the prey.

 

[mjbok]

You should have gone higher and attacked the eagle (not actually hitting him), but enough to scare him away. In the bird world, the higher bird is the predator and the lower the prey.

There's a variation on a few Top Gun quotes that would be appropriate here, but here's a variation: That's a big gamble with a two thousand dollar drone. Besides that I was flying blind which (although that's how I learned to fly on an OG Phantom) is dicey enough as it is. Add to that I was flying over people's houses it was a battle that could have been bad if I lost it.

 

[HiloHawaiian]

I’m all for getting down ASAP when a predator bird appears close-by. There’s too many variables, mostly with bad outcomes.
Hawaiian Hawks are small, about the size of a Falcon. Very fast. They never circled my XSP, but they dove on it, pulling-up at the last second. After the 3rd attack in 2 min., I hit RTH.
Looking at the video, I think it was a territorial thing, this guy looks PISSED!

 

[Ansia]

I’m all for getting down ASAP when a predator bird attacks. There’s too many variables, mostly with bad outcomes.
Hawaiian Hawks are small, about the size of a Falcon. Very fast. They never circled my XSP, but they’d dove on it, pulling-up at the last second. After the 3rd attack in 2 min., I hit RTH.
Looking at the video, I think it was a territorial thing, but this guy looks PISSED!View attachment 4410

You didn't ask permission to take his photo.

 

[HiloHawaiian]

You didn't ask permission to take his photo.

LOL, these guys appear out of nowhere. In this instance, I saw him from my iPad, but much lower in the canyon. I ignored him until suddenly one came by so close the XSP wobbled!

 

[mjbok]

I’m all for getting down ASAP when a predator bird appears close-by. There’s too many variables, mostly with bad outcomes.
Hawaiian Hawks are small, about the size of a Falcon. Very fast. They never circled my XSP, but they dove on it, pulling-up at the last second. After the 3rd attack in 2 min., I hit RTH.
Looking at the video, I think it was a territorial thing, this guy looks PISSED!View attachment 4410

That is an amazing picture. Would be waaaay to close for my comfort.

 

[Tufargon]

I’m all for getting down ASAP when a predator bird appears close-by. There’s too many variables, mostly with bad outcomes.
Hawaiian Hawks are small, about the size of a Falcon. Very fast. They never circled my XSP, but they dove on it, pulling-up at the last second. After the 3rd attack in 2 min., I hit RTH.
Looking at the video, I think it was a territorial thing, this guy looks PISSED!View attachment 4410

Awesome picture!!! I get scared to fly around here because there are so many hawks, bald eagles and golden eagles.

 

[SnagsWolf]

Scary stories.

So maybe I should cancel that rabbit skin I ordered for my Evo?

 

[Ansia]

Scary stories.

So maybe I should cancel that rabbit skin I ordered for my Evo?

No No. Keep your order and install it.

 

[Sveibl]

Save both birds at put it down in a hurry. I was in a dog/bird fight over the ocean an it was a challenge to get back to beach. I won’t hurt birds a the don’t have medical insurance