Paragliding Alongside Eagles | Natural World: Super Powered Eagles | BBC Earth

In California, expert bird handler Lloyd Buck tries his hand at paragliding in an attempt to understand more about how eagles soar.
Subscribe: bit.ly/BBCEarthSub
#NaturalWorld #SuperPoweredEagles
Watch more:
Planet Earth bit.ly/PlanetEarthPlaylist
Blue Planet bit.ly/BluePlanetPlaylist
Planet Earth II bit.ly/PlanetEarthIIPlaylist
Planet Dinosaur bit.ly/PlanetDinosaurPlaylist
Natural World: Super Powered Eagles (2020)
Revealing the science behind eagles - the most powerful birds on the planet. With 60 different species, each perfectly built for the kill, they've made their home along coastlines and in deserts, mountains and forests. This film tells the story of the eagle and discovers why it has been so successful. It follows a family of bald eagles as the chicks grow and develop. And from fishing eagles to snake eagles, it finds out how they have adapted their skills to conquer the world.
Welcome to BBC EARTH! The world is an amazing place full of stories, beauty and natural wonder. Here you'll find 50 years worth of entertaining and thought-provoking natural history content. Dramatic, rare, and exclusive, nature doesn't get more exciting than this.
This is a commercial page from BBC Studios. Service information and feedback: bbcworldwide.com/vod-feedback-...

[@givemethatfilletfish]

I caught this on TV randomly a couple of years ago. As a paraglider pilot this segment brought tears to my eyes. I searched the internet for this clip and was never able to find it. I can’t describe how stoked I am to watch this again. Thank you BBC

[@mtwolf7]

As a hang gliding pilot I really enjoyed this! I fly with eagles/vultures all the time. There is nothing that compares with it! This shows just a glimpse of the awe and freedom of free flight!

[@Djellowman]

are there many hang gliding accidents?

[@chuyocaca4153]

dude that's what airplanes are for? if Man was meant to fly we would have had feathers instead of Hair. l.o.l Okay but seriously adrenaline Junkies ! always choose the most dangerous sports! as if life( wasn't short enough as is. and please you can spare me the speech about how safe it is? if you know what you are doing for zhit happens! and can not be denied.

[@ScaramouchedaVinci]

@@Djellowman Yes and no. It depends very much on the pilot what risk and ignorance he takes.

[@ScaramouchedaVinci]

@@chuyocaca4153 Then you can also say that, if we were to go over the earth so quickly, we would have wheels instead of legs.

[@Djellowman]

@@chuyocaca4153 a 70 iq brain produced these words.

[@gl15col]

John Denvers song "The Eagle and the Hawk" is the perfect accompaniment. "All those who see me, and all who believe in me, share in the freedom I feel when I fly!"

[@mike123V]

That was a wonderful experience. The crew from BBC was the best! Lloyd, I'll never forget our flights together. Also the cameo from the bald eagle that flew below us. Really happy this clip was posted!

[@loumorucci]

More than 10 years ago, my daughter and I enjoyed paragliding in Pokhara, Nepal. It was a glorious experience, flying and feeding Egyptian Vultures. The original paragliding team is now active In Spain.

[@parshakamarsh]

What an amazing experience, I'd love to try it!

[@asifhusainarastu7193]

How lucky to be soaring with Eagles ❤

[@yeeturmcbeetur8197]

It must really have messed birds up when we first started doing this. Like imagine you’re a bird and you see what looks like this hairless ape and you’re just like “damn. They figured it out”

[@3winanimal]

It's certainly possible that the sight of humans soaring through the air in aircraft was a shock to the natural world, particularly to birds who have long held dominion over the skies. It's interesting to consider how these creatures may have reacted to this new development and whether they understood the implications of this technological advancement. Nonetheless, it's a testament to human ingenuity and innovation that we've been able to overcome the limitations of our biology and achieve such remarkable feats.

[@JanPBtest]

@@3winanimal There was research done on that in Italy (and probably other places), esp. regarding the birds' reaction when raising their young. The results were encouraging: no noticeable consequences. I lost the link to that study, unfortunately. Another very interesting study was done in Hungary: how do migrating birds strategise long-distance flights every year? Free-flying pilots (i.e., no engine: sailplane, paraglider, hang glider) use something called "the MacCready speed-to-fly" which is way to figure out the trade-off between your wing speed versus the amount of headwind and/or sinking air in order to maximise the ground distance covered. And it turns out migrating birds fly very much according to the MacCready calculation! This was confirmed by comparing flying patterns of birds with miniature GPS transmitters on them to paraglider pilots hired by the researchers and asked to fly according to the MacCready indications on their variometers. The graphs of both were nearly identical. Of course birds don't do it by differential equations, they "merely" have _LOTS_ of practice!

[@Claire-tk4do]

@@3winanimal *ChatGPT has joined the chat*

[@MrSproutTheOriginal]

This is Owl Approved 👍

[@igs_crown]

Looks sooooo good! I wish I could fly.

[@nishtapsicoterapiatanatolo9077]

Beautiful!!! Soaring with eagles. What an experience!!! I have always wanted to do that!! Thanks BBC

[@styx85]

You can! Anyone can paraglide. Look up clubs near you, maybe they've got a tandem offering or a beginner's course this spring 🙂

[@paralotnik2299]

It's a wonderful experience. Recently I had the opportunity to fly with storks, hawks, seagulls and gliders above and below me.

[@petergreis]

…and that’s why I am a commercial tandem pilot here in Switzerland…😊

[@JanPBtest]

Haha, that's where I got my first paraglider flight in 2011 (in Interlaken). When I got back, I decided I had to learn flying myself.

[@richenenstein6204]

Who and where is the person filming this action? Especially the closeups.

[@convon712]

I wondered the same thing.

[@TimeTheory2099]

Thanks BBC earth. 👍

[@stefangoldensteinwildlife9929]

wow. To fly with eagles must be so awesome. Greets Stefan

[@barbarabermingham9385]

Awesome Guys Terrific Experience ❤️

[@Nan-1017]

Simply amazing. I’d love to do this 😊

[@Shirogari]

I've heard the term updraft used before but didn't realise it was such a simple concept.

[@yellowboot6629]

Thanks ❣️

[@alvirosy]

Stunning scenery, interesting experience! ❤

[@cardboardbox3787]

So amazing.

[@kandaman304]

Amazing, to say the least!!!

[@ambush8463]

Today is my birthday! This was a great video!

[@James-lp4ev]

Exciting.

[@ChrisJewell7333]

Nicely said…! ❤

[@Sahebsky93]

Great experience I thank god that is had this one❤

[@ZennExile]

Actually, these birds can see the air currents. Their eyes are very sharp, and their mind is very well tuned to subtle changes in their field of vision. Once they visibly locate moving air and they fly into it their sympathetic nervous system takes over combining their feather control regions into a reactive system that, from the neck, the bird can control flight from as if it were the stick in the cockpit of an airplane. Much of their flight ability is built-in to their sympathetic nervous system as reflex action or in counter levers of tendons between feather regions.

[@3winanimal]

That's truly fascinating! The vulture's ability to detect and navigate air currents with such precision is a testament to the incredible adaptation and evolution of these birds. It's incredible to think that much of their flight ability is innate and built into their nervous system, allowing them to control their feathers and movements with such fluidity and ease. Observing their behavior and flight patterns must be a remarkable experience, and it's a reminder of the amazing diversity and complexity of life on our planet.

[@OctagonOutcome]

Unreal!

[@1969kodiakbear]

Thermals form. By the way, I have difficulty communicating because I had a stroke in Broca’s area, the part of the brain that controls speech. 2/8/2021 but I lived again. (My wife helped me compose this.)

[@Djellowman]

wow epic video

[@Itsallgoodtogo]

Just don't fly around their nesting place in the spring ... These birds get territorial and the claws do not-nice-things to your wing.

[@ssuwandi3240]

Did that in Arai Mt 😊

[@thomasbeach7436]

Loved the vid! Looks like a lot of fun but it's not for me. I'll just sit here on my couch and watch thank you!

[@Munirgaming2853]

BEST VIDEO

[@OffSurfaceAdventures]

Last year I was lucky to thermal together with a big vulture in spain. We shared the same thermal and flew some circles together until our ways seperated somewhere under the coudbase. Quite impressive to look directly into their eyes just 20 m away. We always loved to watch them take the first thermals at the takeoff site before the first paraglider could use them.

[@3winanimal]

What an amazing experience! Sharing a thermal with a vulture in Spain must have been truly unforgettable. To fly alongside such a majestic bird and gaze into its eyes is a rare privilege that few get to experience. It's wonderful to hear that you have a deep appreciation for these creatures and their incredible flying abilities, and I'm sure that watching them take the first thermals at the takeoff site is a sight to behold. Thank you for sharing this incredible moment with us.

[@JanPBtest]

@@3winanimal Vultures are very nice to fly with, they are quite curious and social, unlike hawks which can be quite mean. Vultures also know the rules of traffic: if they see you circling in a thermal and they join you, they'll respect the direction of rotation that you have established. Although I had an encounter once with a vulture which apparently took a quick nap while flying (they do it now and then, lazy bums!) and it kept going in the opposite direction until it suddenly saw me and "hit the brakes": flared its wings, stopped in its tracks and turned away. In places with lots of vultures in the air it's recommended to fly with a whistle to wake up an occasional sleepy head 🙂

[@James-lp4ev]

What a fun form of self expression! More young people should have the opportunity.

[@OurWorldNature2335]

woow amazing👍

[@TheWestIsNext001]

Soaring and flying with a golden eagle?! WOUAH Lloyd:. I'm quite emotional. Mike:. It's okay you can cry. I cried.. Lloyd:. It's very emotional actually. Golden Eagle:. Been there done that since I learnt the soaring and flying around these rolling hills.

Sehr schön 👍🤠

[@wildlifewarrior2670]

Eagles are in charge

[@convon712]

It looks like Vallejo in the SF Bay Area. Lots of paragliders fly from the rocky ramparts above Columbus Parkway northeast of the city. The birds are also present.

[@maureenwalsh7167]

I thought it was probably near Vallejo as well.

[@imsouthwood]

One of the unexpected wonders of paragliding, we have Red kites and Buzzards join us in Wiltshire.

[@haiderlraq9876]

Nice ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤content

[@urbanelysium]

I’d be emotional too! I just want to fly!!! This, ultralight, para, skydive… it al so expensive tho! 😔

[@jojobegood]

❤❤

[@kathyjohnson2878]

Ok, raise your hand if you teared up too

[@3winanimal]

Paragliding Alongside Eagles

[@dmtdreamz7706]

I have awoken so far beyond Paragliding that I discovered an entirely new category of awakening. I have become so conscious if the nature of love, that I have discovered an entirely new kind of love: Alien Love. This is nothing that any human has ever imagined or spoken of. The happiest day of my life is when I awoke to infinite alien love. It's the most beautiful thing I have ever experienced. My comprehension of love has become so profound that I have become Alien Love. I can show humanity how to become Alien Love. That is now the purpose of my life's work.

[@Djellowman]

Now that it's 45 minutes after your trip, how goes the Alien Love?

[@4kWildlifeBangladesh]

great video. we only use nature for our shake

[@donaldolin7219]

Good to be able to get away from the ground like that.

[@rich_da_prophet6424]

Can you Paraglide in Detroit?

[@aleksandarristic2329]

Where is that exact location?

[@megaassassin209able]

this looks like mission peak Fremont, CA but I might be wrong

[@megaassassin209able]

@Valentine Michael I was on the same boat but remembered there is a couple of mountains infront of Sally wool lake. So crossed it out

[@aleksandarristic2329]

@@megaassassin209able much appreciated mate!

[@convon712]

It looks like Vallejo in the north bay area. Lots of paragliders fly from the rocky ramparts above Columbus Parkway northeast of the city. The birds fit, too. Curious about who was filming this. Anyone know?

[@user-mpampis060Gr]

Σας παρακαλώ πολύ να βάλετε στους υπότιτλους και άλλες γλώσσες επειδή δεν γνωρίζουν όλοι την αγγλική γλώσσα. Χαιρετίσματα από την Αθήνα πρωτεύουσα της Ελλάδας.

[@bossmatsymoto]

🎀дякую🇺🇦

[@user-cn3jk4gk6p]

has a female ever paraglided here on the south no female has paraglided here for over 85 years

[@scottbarkley496]

That's not TOM CRUISE