The problem of birds swooping down from above is very common in Australia. During the breeding season, species such as magpies can attack people who get too close to the nest. The crow is also a bird with such behavior. They even target cargo drones. In a video by Ben Roberts, a resident of the Canberra suburb of Harrison, the crow pounces on a drone that is landing to deliver coffee. The drone gradually descends and prepares to drop the bag. But at that moment, the bird swooped forward, clinging to the machine in mid-air and pecking repeatedly.
The attack lasted a few seconds. Many of the drone’s propellers whirred as the vehicle struggled to balance. The crow quickly flew away and the drone was able to lower the bag with a rope. This isn’t the first time Roberts’ coffee bags have been targeted by birds. The birds have tried to approach drones before, and they seem to know how to avoid the spinning propellers.
The drone was suddenly attacked by crows.
Canberra is in lockdown due to Covid-19, leading to a spike in the number of people ordering delivery by drone. Wing, the company that operates drones, decided to suspend operations in the Harrison area while ornithologists examine the behavior of the birds as the incident that Roberts encountered. A representative for Wing shared that some crows exhibit territorial behavior and that the company wants to have the least impact on bird life.
According to ornithologist Neil Hermes, crows often attack animals that come close to their nests . Therefore, he thinks that Wing’s decision is very reasonable while waiting for the authorities to consider the situation.
