Birds WILL Attack Amazon’s Delivery Drones (w/videos)

[big_dog]

The difference for Amazon’s drones is that the birds will be chasing them. Unseen to us, the skies are checkered with fiercely defended bird territories. Open-country raptors—hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, etc.—don’t take kindly to interlopers on their hunting grounds, and frequently chase, dive-bomb, and take talons to intruders. The confrontations can be even more violent during nesting season when vulnerable chicks are potential prey.

Smaller birds also bravely shoo away potential threats, including raptors. Kingbirds are most famous for this behavior and can sometimes be seen riding the backs of much larger birds, escorting them out of the area. It’s impressive behavior when seen from below—an aerial David and Goliath—and it’s common among open-country species, either solo or in pairs, like the kingbirds, or in huge flocks.

Won’t birds know that Amazon’s drones aren’t really threats, though? Nope. To a bird, a big flying thing is a big flying potential threat. So add “environmental mayhem” to the list of things the FAA needs to consider before developing rules for Amazon’s drone delivery, or else be prepared to receive books scarred by talon swipes and beak pecks. It’s almost enough to make you pine for the days of waiting in line at the post office.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/wild_things/2013/12/05/amazon_delivery_drone_problems_birds_will_attack.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly&utm_campaign=7d7f682b3a-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0bb2959cbb-7d7f682b3a-304632189

[Cleita]

1. I've seen that behavior with our Red Tail hawks when other

species of hawks or Kestrels try to intrude. However some have suggested it's the two footed variety of predators with butterfly nets, who might be a bigger danger in intercepting deliveries.

[onehandle]

2. I got attacked by bluejays when I was a kid.

And I was barely hovering.

Amazon's drone story was a Cyber Monday stunt and nothing more.

[randome]

4. 'Barely hovering'?

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Treat your body like a machine. Your mind like a castle.[/center][/font][hr]

[Blue_Tires]

3. The vision of Hitchcock has become real life...

The real headline is birds will attack US for using Amazon’s delivery drones...

[Warren DeMontague]

6. Imagine what happens when people start ordering birdseed on amazon.

[tridim]

7. I've had birds "play" with my radio controled planes.

But they rarely attack. I flew once next to a falconer, that was interesting.

I bet the bulk of the attacks come from humans who want their own quad-copter drone.

[BlueStreak]

8. No problem. The birds will just have to die.

It is so ordered by Amazon.

[bvar22]

9. Shhhh! Be vewy, vewy, qwiet.

I'm hunting Amazons!

[Demo_Chris]

10. Not a problem, the rotors will protect the packages from bird attacks...

[freshwest]

11. Reminds me of the thread about WWF drones to stop elephant poaching here on DU.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022892226

Or find whaling ships for Sea Shepherd:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/100269633

Or Tim Wise the videographer during the initial NYC OWS to film protests. I can't find the link, but he live streamed his own drone and showed how he could manuever it to keep track in spite of the no-fly zones.

When the fabled Skynet of our paranoid fantasiex becomes reality, will we notice?

[Jamaal510]

12. I love Amazon, but

after I found out more about the idea of them using drones to deliver packages, I have to say that this is one of the dumbest ideas I have ever heard of. Not only would it possibly put people out of work, but how would the drones function in rainy or snowy weather? How would Amazon deal with people wanting to knock the drones out of the sky and steal someone's package?
This drone idea has "stupid" written all over it. Amazon should stick to doing what is working, and not try to fix what isn't broken.