In Australia, an innovative home delivery system that uses drones to drop packages at customers’ doors has faced an unlikely challenger. A drone, which was carrying coffee, almost got out of balance – not because of a technical failure or extreme weather conditions, but because of an angry crow that attacked the device.
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In the suburb of Harrison in Canberra, Ben Roberts was waiting for his cup to quench his craving for caffeine when he noticed the bird attacking the flying craft with violent pecks in an attempt to bring it down.
It was a battle for air domination that left Roberts quite stunned. Thanks to the aggressiveness of the large bird, the machine struggled to continue to fly, although it eventually changed position and let go of the object.
Roberts captured the fight on camera. The music video he managed to record caught the attention of internet users all over the web.
The drone delivery program
In Australia, these drones are operated by a program called Wing, which works in conjunction with Google to deliver small items such as food, medicine and coffee to its customers. But there have been problems, as recently large crows nearly shot down at least two of these airplanes in the area.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAshKROIjtQ
These air battles are believed to have been triggered due to the nesting season coinciding with an increase in demand for drone deliveries during the Canberra lockdown. Crows are known to attack anything they consider a threat to their nests, including dogs much larger than themselves.
Following these bird attacks, the company suspended its drone operations to protect its drones and birds. They informed the client that they would be asking bird watchers to review the incident. The company also reaffirmed its commitment to environmental causes.
Nev Sheather, the organizer of Bonython Against Drones, said ABC News that 80% of the inhabitants of the region are against Wing drones.
He said noise was one of the main concerns and pointed out that there had been reports of dogs running wild and children too scared to play in backyards due to the clamor created by these machines flying at low altitude. Residents were also concerned about their privacy due to the cameras placed on the drones.
He also expressed his concerns about the potential impact of drones on wildlife and the environment.
ABC News quoted a Wing spokesperson as saying that to its knowledge no birds were injured in the dive incidents. She added that direct contact with the birds has been extremely rare during home deliveries in Australia. “In the unlikely event that a bird comes into direct contact with our drone, we have several levels of redundancy built into our operations to ensure we can continue to fly safely,” she said.
Threat to wildlife?
Crows don’t seem to be the only birds to view drones as a threat. In early May this year, a drone crashed into the grounds of Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Southern California, United States. This scared nearly 3,000 adult elegant terns that used the reserve as a nesting site.
Terns, just like crows, see drones as a threat – perhaps as a giant bird or a predator. The birds have left about 1,500 to 2,000 eggs which will probably never hatch.
It’s not just the birds either. Earlier this month, a viral TikTok video showed a alligator gnawing a drone. The drone was hovering over the swampy waters of the Everglades, Florida, when an alligator grabbed it with its jaw and began to bite it. People were concerned whether the reptile was still doing well after ingesting the drone.
On Twitter, the clip sparked debates over banning drones near wild animals and the liability of those flying the drone. The caption for the clip claimed that people using the drone were not familiar with its use.
Drones are a good way to ensure contactless deliveries during a pandemic. They are also used for wildlife research and photography. Careful use and regulations to ensure that people and animals nearby are not injured are recommended.
