'/> Drone Disguised as Hummingbird Captures Incredible Footage of Monarch Butterfly Swarm - Science And Nature

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May 10, 2020

Drone Disguised as Hummingbird Captures Incredible Footage of Monarch Butterfly Swarm


It's not very often that I watch a video online and react by literally gasping and audibly saying "wow." Watching Captain America stare down Thanos and his whole army, in an IMAX cinema, on a huge screen, was the last time I reacted in such a way. This time, even without the huge screen, resolution, and quality, this video is simply incredible. 
In a recent video from Nature on PBS, you'll be able to get super close to resting Monarch Butterflies. As they wait for the temperature to rise, they huddle together to keep warm. Without disturbing any of the butterflies, they've managed to take close-up footage of the butterflies. The way they've managed to do this is by disguising a drone to look like a Hummingbird. As described in the video, hummingbirds are not a threat to the monarch butterflies, and for that reason they don't react to it at all. 
Once the temperature rises sufficiently the butterflies take flight and the scene is simply magical. The butterflies are able to comfortably fly around and even land on the drone without being hurt. This is because the drone has been designed in a way to ensure it cannot harm the butterflies. As the narrator explains in the video, the drones moving parts have been shielded to keep them safe. 
This is precisely the kind of content I needed during this time and I'm very happy to have witnessed such beauty; even if it is just on a screen in my home.

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