Australian eagle takes down drone with talon 'punch'

MELBOURNE, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- An Australian videographer shooting footage with an aerial drone recorded the moment the device was knocked out of the sky by a "punch" from an eagle.

The video, uploaded to YouTube by Melbourne Aerial Video, features the drone shooting aerial footage in a wooded area when a wedge-tailed eagle quickly appears and knocks the drone out of the sky.

The drone crashes to the ground while the camera remains functional, shooting dizzying footage of the plummet before resting on a tranquil scene of leaves on the ground.

The video's description said the bird of prey was "fine" after using its talons to "punch the drone out of the sky."

"This is the last thing a small bird sees when a Wedge-Tailed Eagle decides that you are dinner," the uploader wrote.

"Do not fly drones near birds of prey, they clearly attack seeing you as a threat or the right sized dinner. This will cost you money and potentially harm to the bird. This one was fine.. the drone needed some attention before it could fly again."