Eagle grabs drone mid-flight in the Swiss Alps! [video]
![Eagle grabs drone mid-flight in the Swiss Alps! [video]](https://dronedj.com/wp-content/themes/ninetofive/dist/images/default-dronedj-related-guide.png?w=1600)
Check this video out. It was shot this month somewhere in the Swiss Alps and it shows who the real kings of the skies are. Hint it is not your drone!
Saildrones sent to White Shark Cafe in the Pacific Ocean to monitor one of the world’s largest shark migrations
Every spring, in what is one of the world’s largest migrations, thousands of great white sharks swim from along America’s West Coast to an area in the Pacific Ocean that is half-way in between San Diego and Hawaii. The area is about the size of Colorado and is known among marine biologists as the White Shark Cafe. Not much was known as to why the marine predators hang out here or what they are up to. However, this year we finally got some answers as two Saildrones were sent out there to monitor the great whites.
Great white shark attacks Trident submarine drone at Isla de Guadalupe, Mexico [video]
A great white shark attacked a Trident beta unit submarine drone at Isla de Guadalupe, Mexico late last year. Dominik Fretz took a Trident beta unit out to for testing in the shark-infested waters. The underwater drone captured the scary-looking footage and lived to tell the tale.
Drones are an integral part of fight against deadly malaria spread by monkeys in Malaysia
Drones are being used to monitor deforestation and to track malaria-carrying macaque monkeys deep in the Malaysian forests. Especially in Borneo, there has been a surge in the deadly ‘monkey malaria’, with the disease accounting for 69% of all the human malaria cases in Malaysia. With the help of drones outfitted with infrared cameras, researchers of the Monkey Bar Project are able to better track the monkeys through the forest and ultimately slow down the spreading of the disease.
Drone used to study rookery on little Lenore Island, on the Caloosahatchee River in Florida.
More and more wildlife researchers and scientists are turning to drones to observe animals. Drones are in almost all cases a safer and more affordable option to observe wildlife. Ecologist and FAA certified drone pilot from Fort Myers, Church Roberts recently used his drone to study the rookery on little Lenore Island, on the Caloosahatchee River in Florida.
DJI Mavic Air used for whale research in Cabo Verde
The use of drones is becoming more prevalent in the study and observation of wildlife. In almost all cases, drones are better suited for the job than traditional airplanes and helicopters. In this example, a team of people from the Cabo Verdean Eco-Tourism Association, who research whales used the very small and affordable DJI Mavic Air to capture photo and video footage of a humpback whale mother and her newborn in the Cabo Verde archipelago.
‘Super-Colony’ of penguins counted with the help of drones in Antartica
A group of researchers has discovered one of the largest colonies of Adélie penguins on the Danger Islands of Antarctica. This ‘super-colony’ is believed to consist out of 751,527 breeding pairs of Adélie penguins. How would one count such a large group of animals? Well, with the help of drones and neural network software.
Fishermen use drone to locate striped bass school off Fire Island
We already know that drones are used in more creative ways than for which they were intended. Herding sheep, or spreading propaganda, for instance, are both good examples. In this video posted on Fire Island and Beyond, we have an NY fisherman who uses his drone to successfully locate a school of striped bass off Fire Island. Needless to say, it made catching the feeding fish really easy.
Drones improve research on Antarctic species
NOAA reports that drones help improve the scientific research on Antarctic species such as leopard seal by taking photos from straight above. Since the leopard seals feed on Antarctic krill – small, shrimp-like crustaceans, the size and weight of the seals are a good indication of the Antarctic ecosystem as a whole. In the past researcher would spend hours searching for leopard seals, catching them and immobilizing them so that they could be weighed. Keep in mind that weighing these large mammals in icy conditions is no easy task.
Snake hunters use infra-red drones to find invasive pythons in Florida’s Everglades
Hunting Burmese pythons in the Floridian Everglades is no easy task. The camouflage of these snakes works so well that they are almost impossible to spot in amid the sawgrass and other swamp vegetation. However, there is a new guy in town that makes spotting pythons much easier and faster and it is a drone outfitted with an infrared thermal camera.
Drone to police the beaches in Queensland after crocodile attacks
Last week we reported about a drone patrol program being started in Perth, Australia. Today we learn that drones will be used to patrol the beaches in the far north of Queensland after a series of crocodile attacks. Fatal crocodile attacks have led to Surf Lifesaving Queensland to deploy a drone to spot for crocodiles in swim areas. Ever since crocs were found in stinger enclosures, three beaches have been closed.
A drone proves it, narwhals hunt with their tusk
Scientists have believed that the narwhal’s tusk was mainly for sexual selection, however, new drone footage shows that the tusk may be a multi-purpose tool for the unicorns of the ocean. The drone aerial video confirms scientific theories and traditional Inuit knowledge, but at the same time, it raises new questions.
Marine biologists use DJI Inspire to collect whale snot
At today’s DJI event, Michael Perry, Managing Director of DJI North America told us that people are finding new ways to use drones that even DJI had not thought of. Most people are familiar with insurance inspectors, solar panel installation companies and real estate professionals using drones but sometimes people find new ways to use them.
Drone captures moose fighting off a wolf in northern Ontario [video]
Dan Nystedt from Sault Ste. Marie in Ontario, Canada was flying his drone to capture some beautiful fall scenics in 4K when his eye caught a moose standing in a lake. As Nystedt moved his Phantom 4 Pro in for a closer look at this majestic animal, a wolf comes charging out of the bushes and a battle for life and death ensues. Another example of how drones bring wildlife to life.
Intel’s Falcon 8+ drone observes polar bears in the Arctic [video]
Wildlife biologists often work under harsh conditions in unforgivable environments to observe dangerous animals, but if you think that this would pose the biggest risk to a biologists life, you’d be wrong. The number one cause of death for wildlife biologists are light-aircraft crashes. According to a 2003 study in the Wildlife Society Bulletin, between 1937 and 2000, 91 biologists and other scientists have died in the field and 60 of them were killed in helicopter or plane crashes. Mostly while flying at low altitudes to track wildlife.