AggieDave 6 #1 May 18, 2003 We've had this discussion before and many, such as myself, have mentioned that birds don't normally fly that high, etc. Well, here ya go, Tuesday I was doing some jumps, exited the aircraft at 4.5k, freefall till 3k and deployed. Sounds uneventful, except, at 3.5k, I passed a hawk (about 25ft away!). I'm not real sure the Hawks around here normally fly that high, but it was a very odd day in terms of winds and thermals, there were some serious thermals right around the airport (we eventually quit jumping due to the wind/thermal stuff really creating a dangerous situation). Just thought I'd share. Hopefully someone has some cool insight we can all learn off of.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Casch 0 #2 May 18, 2003 heh, that could have been messy Think of it in the Hawks point of view...that would be like walking through a park and then all of a sudden a Mack truck falls out of nowhere and almost lands on you...I think that Hawk might need some therapy, good goin' Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
towerrat 0 #3 May 18, 2003 I have heard of large birds as high as 10,000 ft. Of course I've never seen one that high. I am a tower tech and notice that the buzzards in central Florida stay relatively low, but have seen them and other birds much higher than I would have assumed they would normally fly.Play stupid games, win stupid prizes! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FreeDiver 0 #4 May 18, 2003 weird.. if I were a bird I would try to get as high as I could possiby could fly Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Unstable 8 #5 May 18, 2003 It would be kind of cool to have a pilot fly around 3000 while someone shoots the birds from the door. If only that wern't hideously illegal.............. sds=========Shaun ========== Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Iflyme 0 #6 May 18, 2003 QuoteI have heard of large birds as high as 10,000 ft. bar-headed geese can fly at 30,000! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kinaa 0 #7 May 18, 2003 Quote I have heard of large birds as high as 10,000 ft. Two months ago I saw (from a plane) pair of large birds at 11000ft+IP Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masher 1 #8 May 19, 2003 There was an article in the Australian Skydiving Magazine a while ago about a bird strike. A guy hit one in freefall and was nearly knocked out. On the ground he got some first aid, and was sent to a hospital. Doctors there removed a bird's claw from his forehead! -- Arching is overrated - Marlies Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrazyIvan 0 #9 May 19, 2003 Quote Doctors there removed a bird's claw from his forehead! DAMN!!!! __________________________________________ Blue Skies and May the Force be with you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
robskydiv 0 #10 May 19, 2003 Seeing that hawk while in freefall must have been an awesome sight. I'm glad that you didn't fly into each other. Next time, wear a camera please. Peace bro. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
evilivan 0 #11 May 19, 2003 Quote I am a tower tech Dude, careful with admitting stuff like that on a skydiving forum. Unless of course you WANT loads of new friends.... "If you can keep your head when all around you have lost theirs, then you probably haven't understood the seriousness of the situation." David Brent Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darkwing 4 #12 May 19, 2003 my teammate descended from a recent competition 4-way jump with fresh bird poop on his jumpsuit. Sort of the birds way of letting him know how close it was. I tracked through a flock (10-15 birds) at about 3500 feet last year. That didn't bother me as much as having to flare out of a track to prevent hitting an airplane (which I had to do on a jump at about the same time). -- Jeff My Skydiving History Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
