There’s over-the-top antics and then there’s Dubai. The emirate excels when it comes to enforcing the ‘bigger is better’ maxim, but it’s hard to get a perspective from the ground.

So it’s helpful to take an over-the-top bird’s eye view. Or, in this case, an eagle’s – with a little help from a Sony Action Cam.

Conservation group Freedom recently unleashed Darshan the eagle in Dubai’s Downtown district, as part of a world record attempt for the “highest recorded bird flight from a man-made structure”.

The most prominent buildings are the Burj Khalifa (the world's tallest building), which is home to Armani Hotel Dubai, as well as the The Address Downtown Dubai.

The event was streamed live on the BBC, which captured Freedom director Ronald Menzel describe how the campaign to protect wildlife in urban areas has been supported by the Crown Prince of Dubai.

“The way Dubai developed is just amazing but of course this goes with a huge environmental impact. Our message, and the message of the Crown Prince is to try to shift the development of Dubai to become more sustainable. We are so proud to help pass this message on to his people,” he explained.

The bird also captured footage over the desert dunes and even alighted on the helipad of the seven-star Burj Al Arab hotel.

Founded by world-renowned falconer Jacques-Olivier Travers and developed in cooperation with conservationist Ronald Menzel, Freedom Conservation seeks to protect and reintroduce threatened birds of prey through creative conservation methods, and generate global publicity for the cause.