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I've seen some complaining about drones buzzing their property. Check out this drone catcher. Skip ahead to about 8:10 to avoid a lengthy instruction on making this thing. Requires welders, a lathe and lots of fittings.
I present this more for the entertainment value rather than a serious suggestion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi3Ed-paCE4
Jon in Keaau/HPP
Jon in Keaau/HPP
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A potato cannon with loaded with a potato and rock salt would have done the same thing for about $20.
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I miss my potato cannon. But tough to aim a potato.
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I miss my potato cannon. But tough to aim a potato.
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Hint: after putting in the potato, drop a handful of small cinder into the barrel. Just don't point it downward...
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Very cool, thanks for sharing birdmove. Fascinating, love that kind of stuff. But as you said requires some tools and also a skilled metalworker is required.
Lots of these creative builds on youtube. One of my faves:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbKGjRoSofA&t=3s
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I used to compete in NRA Hunter Pistol, and IHMSA pistol matches. The former was at 25, 50,75, qne 100 meters. The latter was at 50, 100, 150, and 200 meters. And I shot in unsanctioned 100 meter matches at the Tacoma Sportsman Club. One of the members there brought his potato gun to a match just to show us. Made out of plastic pipe with a push button ignitor that put out a spark, he used hair spray as the propellant. It was quite spectacular on firing, but no accuracy.
Jon in Keaau/HPP
Jon in Keaau/HPP
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Also very cool but there may be a chance of injury on the birds legs upon impact of the drone.
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I would have thought so too but the video suggests otherwise. Also the emotional investment that falconers have in their birds is extreme and they would not knowingly endanger the birds. The birds are not like dogs, bred for generations to be dependent on humans. They are genetically still wild and uniquely equipped to leave if they so choose and yet the bond with the falconer is such that they willingly return. So, they are not being used sacrificially. Finally I would point out how absofreakenlutely ferocious their talons are:
https://external-preview.redd.it/wQ21_OqvggD2n41a2YJcb7GlD01Vbn35f4rDRHBQDek.jpg?auto=webp&s=2a95c160e11ef0359e84f118dce0a0b506c20f01
Those are from an African Crowned Eagle, a bird that although not the largest in the world, seems to specialize in taking the largest prey of any eagle. A Golden Eagle, which I think is what was being sent after the drones, would be somewhat smaller, but not by much. Golden eagles have killed deer and wolves. More significantly they sometimes fight each other. Videos I could find showed them going talon to talon so frankly plastic propellers seem kind of wimpy compared to what their feet evolved to go up against.