Birds pose a real threat to aircraft, particularly in the area of the airport and in the neighbourhood

(from 75% to 95% of bird collisions with civil aircraft occur at the airport or close to it). Especially
hazardous are big and heavy species, such as gulls and geese, and also small gregarious birds,
such as starlings and swallows. Over the last decades, the number and frequency of bird-aircraft
collisions increased significantly. Several factors are responsible for this fact, and the most important
is an increase in the number of flight operations combined with increasing numbers of some
hazardous bird species. Birds are attracted to airports because they view the vast airport area as a
safe place for resting, gathering in flocks, or hiding from predators. Besides safety, birds can find
food and water for drinking and bathing at the airport. The occurrence of birds at the airport also
depends on the attractiveness of the neighbouring habitats. Methods applied to minimize the risk of
bird-strikes comprise various long-term and short-term solutions. The application of the former
should be considered already at the stage of airport planning and constructing (i.e. the airport can be
constructed far from important bird areas and flyways). The most effective are methods reducing the
carrying capacity of the environment at the airport. Their essence is to modify the ecological
character of the airport (eliminating sources of water, food resources and shelters) so that it ceases
to be an attractive place to birds. Very effective are structural solutions and barriers that deter birds
in a passive way by reducing the attractiveness of the airport infrastructure to birds. The effect of the
use of these methods is a long-term reduction of the number of birds at the airport and,
consequently, reduction of the risk of bird strikes. These methods certainly do not eliminate all birds
from the zone of airport operations, and should be supplemented with a range of dispersal methods.
These methods should involve a mobile patrol equipped with acoustic (shell crackers, propane
cannons), visual (flares), and physical (trained birds of prey) scaring devices. No one technique is
100% effective, hence many techniques should be used in combination. Scaring techniques should
be used selectively and in rotation in order to avoid habituation. Selection of bird-control methods
depends on the intensity and character of the problems with birds. Hence it is very important for
airport personnel to monitor the occurrence and movements of birds at the airport and in the vicinity
of it, and to record all collisions of birds with aircraft, their severity and bird species involved. An
analysis of the variation in the risk of collision with reference to the time of the day and year, and the
phase and height of flight makes it possible to adapt the programme for bird management to variable
environmental conditions.
 Thousands of airplane bird strikes occur each year, but airports have many safety
and conservation measures in place to minimize these potentially damaging and
dangerous situations. Thanks to thoughtful airport bird control techniques, the
majority of airplane scares involving birds do not result in substantial damage to
the aircraft or danger to the passengers. Conscientious airport officials continually
monitor nearby wildlife in order to refine bird avoidance procedures, avoid any
potential problems, and minimize the impact on birds.

Why Birds Like Airports

Large flocks of birds are hazardous to aircraft, and unfortunately, birds enjoy the
habitat around many busy airports. Because airports are placed on the fringe of
large urban centers, they frequently have large tracts of unused, undeveloped land
surrounding them as noise and safety buffers. That undeveloped land is attractive
to birds, particularly as suitable habitat shrinks due to urban expansion. At the
same time, the general bustle of the airport often discourages large predators,
giving birds a safer sanctuary. Many airports are also near substantial wetlands or
drainage ponds since water is a superb noise dampener, making these areas even
more attractive to migratory waterfowl, gulls, and other large birds. Unfortunately,
the same birds that are most attracted to these habitats can present the most
dangerous threats to aircraft.

How Airports Minimize Bird Strikes

Both large birds and flocks of smaller birds can be dangerous to planes, either by
impacting the windscreen or being sucked into the engines. This not only causes
significant damage to the plane but can also create hazardous and unsafe flying
conditions if critical damage occurs. Because of this, many airports have wildlife
control initiatives in place to minimize any interaction between birds and aircraft.

There are three general ways to minimize airplane bird strikes: modifying the birds’
habitat, controlling the birds’ behavior, and modifying the aircrafts’ behavior.
Airports that are most successful at minimizing bird strikes have employed all three
methods through various techniques.

Modifying Habitat

Modifying the habitat surrounding an airport so it will not appeal to birds is an easy
way to encourage wild birds to seek alternative roosting and feeding grounds.
Effective measures include:

 Removing seed-bearing plants to eliminate food sources

 Using insecticides or pesticides to eliminate food sources for insect-eating birds
 Covering nearby ponds with netting to prevent birds from landing
 Removing brush and trees that serve as attractive nesting sites
 Keeping grass mowed short so it is not as suitable for bird shelter

Modifying Bird Behavior

Several methods can be used to modify birds’ behavior, so they will not stay near
an airport. These techniques do not harm the birds but encourage them to avoid
the region.

 Using sonic cannons, recorded predator calls, and other noise generators to
disrupt birds
 Using lasers at dawn and dusk to simulate predators and scare birds away
 Flying trained falcons over roosting areas to disrupt birds before they nest
 Training dogs to track through the habitat and teach birds that the area has many
predators

As a last resort, birds may be captured and relocated by authorized wildlife control
officials if they cannot be encouraged to leave the area naturally. In extreme
cases, birds may be culled with the proper authorization.

Modifying Plane Behavior

Learning to work with the birds by modifying flight paths and schedules can help
minimize bird strikes. While these methods may not be feasible at all airports, they
can be used to help the airport work in harmony with the wildlife surrounding it.

 Training spotters with binoculars and scopes to pinpoint hazardous birds and
directing planes to different runways or approaches
 Using radar equipment to track the movement and density of bird flocks to predict
their behavior and manage control techniques more effectively
 Adjusting flight times to avoid the busiest hours for bird activity, such as early
morning and late evening or during peak migration periods

Why Bird Strikes Still Happen

Despite the best use of multiple deterrent methods and wildlife management,
airplane bird strikes still happen. Ornithologists and other researchers examine
the snarge, the remains of birds that have impacted with planes, to determine
which species are the greatest problem and the most significant risk. With that
knowledge, they can continually refine control methods to be more effective
without disrupting birds that do not cause problems.
As airports become busier, flights are scheduled more frequently, and alternative
habitats continue to shrink, more and more birds will seek refuge near airports,
causing potentially dangerous situations. Airports must continuously be on the
alert for other fliers in the skies, and as new control and deterrent techniques are
developed, it is hoped that bird strikes can continue to be minimized.