Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Retractable Gear
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 75; Flight Crew Total 6500
Workload; Situational Awareness; Distraction; Time Pressure
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Bird / Animal; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related
Student pilot departed ZZZ to the North and during initial climb; initiated a descent due to numerous birds in the aircraft flight path. Aircraft leveled off at 1;200 feet toward rising terrain. Aircraft may have descended below 500 feet before instructor intervention and clear of conflict and climb initiated.
An Instructor pilot reported their student descended; to avoid birds; towards rising terrain; and below 500 feet above ground before instructor to controls of aircraft.