A drone shot in Iloilo City took an unexpected turn when a bird flew into the frame, appearing to “videobomb” the aerial footage. Maymay Mosqueda was capturing a scenic shot of Pan De Cuzar Island in Concepcion, Iloilo, when a bird suddenly swooped into view.
“At a 180-degree turn, I noticed an object—it was a bird!” Mosqueda recalled. The bird didn’t just pass by but seemed to show a strong interest in the drone, even appearing to attack it. “It went under, and I got really nervous, worried it might damage the drone.”
To ensure safe landing, Mosqueda handed control to a more experienced drone operator. The bird followed the drone all the way back to their home, but fortunately, the device landed without issue.
An ornithologist identified the bird as a White-Bellied Sea Eagle, a common sight in coastal areas throughout the Philippines. Unlike the Philippine Eagle, this bird species poses no danger and is known for its curiosity. The eagle that approached the drone was likely a young bird intrigued by the device’s movement and sound.
As explained by Kuya Kim, drones, also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), are remote-controlled aerial devices originally conceptualized in 1898 by inventor Nikola Tesla for military use under the term “teleautomation.”