Bird Strike Management

Birds play vital ecological roles as biodiversity indicators and contribute to ecosystem balance, however, their presence near airports can pose significant risks to aviation safety. This study investigates the attractants influencing Black Kite (Milvus migrans) presence and mitigative measures to control bird population at Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, Ibadan, Nigeria. Point transect sampling and Key informant interviews (KII) were used to collect data for two months (November December 2024). A total of 2,343 individual birds were recorded, with Black Kites being the most dominant species (1,529 individuals), followed by Pied Crow (238), Speckled Pigeon (132), and Laughing Dove (35). Bird concentrations were recorded mostly at Airside sector (595), Landside (469) and Terminal Building Exterior (465). Attractants included food waste, carcasses, insects, small mammals, stagnant water, and human activities. Current mitigation strategies are habitat modification, proper waste disposal, and use of pyrotechnics. There is a need for integrated ecological and technological strategies.

Bird-aircraft collisions pose significant risks to aviation safety, often resulting in severe damage, flight disruptions, and, in extreme cases, fatalities. The Black Kite (Milvus migrans), a medium-sized scavenging raptor, is frequently observed in airport environments due to its opportunistic feeding behavior and tendency to form large communal roosts. Despite the implementation of bird control measures, frequent bird strikes involving Black Kites have been reported at the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport in Ibadan, Nigeria. This study aims to assess the distribution, abundance, and flight behavior of Black Kites across different airport sectors to inform effective wildlife management strategies. Point transect sampling was used to monitor Black Kite activity within three airport sectors: airside, landside, and terminal building exterior. Observations were conducted from November to December 2024 at 15 designated observation points, covering morning and evening periods. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-Square tests, and one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results indicated a total of 1,529 Black Kite sightings, with the highest abundance recorded in the airside sector (595 observations). Flight behavior analysis revealed that 68.9% of kites engaged in gliding, while 21.8% were observed circling, behaviors that increase collision risk. The use of pyrotechnics as a deterrent proved minimally effective, prompting further investigation into alternative mitigation measures.Given the significant presence of Black Kites, particularly in high-risk areas, interventions such as habitat modification, enhanced waste management, and advanced deterrent technologies should be explored to mitigate bird strike risks and enhance aviation safety.

Bats are nocturnal animals who feast on fruits bearing trees like lansones, rambutan, papaya, etc. As the time goes by farmers have generated few deterrent systems for bats, like putting nets around the trees, but by doing this thing some bats gets caught and can be killed meaning it is harmful to the species and putting net is also expensive and must be changed every often because it is easily broken. This study demonstrates the effect of an alternative way to deter bats by developing a device that can detect bats and other nocturnal animals near its effective range. It uses PIR (passive infrared sensor) as the detector, 12v LED light and ultrasonic speaker as the deterrent. The PROFOBAT detects body heat in motion and emits frequency that range from 10 KHz to 42 KHz. This frequency is not audible to human ears but is effective as a deterrent for animals, meaning that it can detect bats that flies in its effective range that is 10-12 meters at 180 degrees. This device is powered by twelve 12 batteries and is controlled by an Arduino mega microcontroller. The device was developed using the following steps namely; problem identification, research requirements specification, concept generation, design prototype, system testing and evaluation. The device was tested for its functionality in a local farm, and was the evaluated for reliability, ease of use, portability, and accuracy.

Bird damage control often involves dispersing birds from areas where they cause problems. Dispersal techniques have been used at airfields, rural and urban bird roosts, livestock facilities, fruit orchards, grain fields, and other locations. Certain avian vocalizations have evolved as alarm or distress calls, and these calls can be exploited as a means of dispersing birds. The behavioral response to such calls, however, varies. Certain species may disperse with the appropriate call, whereas others show little or no reaction. The efficacy of this technique is not well documented at present, but its potential for development as a management tool seems great. Visual warning signals may increase the effectiveness of bird dispersal recordings by decreasing the habituation rate, increasing realism, or decreasing the fright threshold of the birds causing problems, or by a combination of these factors. Habitat manipulation, which reduces the attractiveness of an area to birds, complements d...

O direito à greve é um direito cujo conceito não se encontra estabelecido no Ordenamento Jurídico português. Como tal, a delimitação da ilicitude do seu exercício, é uma tarefa complexa. No exercício deste direito intervêm, não só os trabalhadores – titulares do direito –, como os sindicatos e o piquetes. Estes últimos adquirem, respectivamente, um papel de gestores e protagonistas deste exercício. Assim, esta dissertação de mestrado pretende aferir da possível aplicação prática da responsabilidade civil à greve ilícita, tanto na vertente extracontratual, nomeadamente por abuso de direito, como na vertente objetiva da responsabilidade do comitente-sindicato, pelos atos do piquete-comissário. Para o fazer, cumpre, abordar os problemas do nexo causal na aplicação à greve ilícita.The concept of the right to strike is not stabilished in the Portuguese Law. As such, delimiting the illegality of its exercise is a complex job. In the exercise of this right intervene, not only the workers –...

With large expanses of open vegetation, airports serve as major attractants for numerous bird species, such as the American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos), which can lead to high risk of bird–aircraft collision. Previous observations of large influxes of crows at the Prince George Airport (British Columbia, Canada) in July and August suggested that crows were opportunistically foraging on grasshopper (Melanoplus sp.) population eruptions in mown grass during those months. We tested whether grasshoppers were more visible (i.e., easier for crows to detect) under different grass lengths, and whether crows were preferentially attracted to these same grass lengths. Employing line transects during July to August 2010 and 2011, we detected >6 times as many grasshoppers in short-cut grass (0 to 15 cm) than in uncut grass (>30 cm). Data from 2011 also revealed that grasshopper detections by crows was significantly higher in short-cut grass than in grass left at intermediate lengths (long...

Rodent is one of the major stored pests in Bangladesh, which causes a huge problem in the food sector. They substantially harm to crops and other valuable items on a large scale. Chemically rodent repellents already exist, but because of their toxicity and high price, they are not recommended for use in food storage. The aim of the study was to develop an electronic rodent-repelling circuit that is capable of generating variable ultrasonic frequencies. These frequencies cause discomfort for pests including rats, and nocturnal insects, which affects their aural senses. A device was successfully designed and constructed by microcontroller, printed circuit board, passive infrared sensor, liquid crystal display, Relay module, and other relative components. The device was vigorously tested in Precision Lab, Bangladesh Agricultural University. Laboratory tests were conducted to evaluate the device's repellent efficacy, considering factors such as range, coverage area, power consumption, and durability. The device functioned as it detected the presence of rodents and then released frequency by the positive signal for 30 s. The device generated ultrasonic signals within the range of 20-125 kHz and detected signals from any live substances up to 4.5 m with an error of a maximum of ±0.428 %. The frequency range of rodent hearing is approximately 20 Hz to 300 kHz, with the greatest sensitivity between 30 and 70 kHz, affecting their aural senses and causing discomfort. Therefore, the developed ultrasonic rodent-repellent circuit can be a practical and sustainable solution for repelling stored rodents, which mitigates storage losses caused by rodent infestations.

Rodent is one of the major stored pests in Bangladesh, which causes a huge problem in the food sector. They substantially harm to crops and other valuable items on a large scale. Chemically rodent repellents already exist, but because of their toxicity and high price, they are not recommended for use in food storage. The aim of the study was to develop an electronic rodent-repelling circuit that is capable of generating variable ultrasonic frequencies. These frequencies cause discomfort for pests including rats, and nocturnal insects, which affects their aural senses. A device was successfully designed and constructed by microcontroller, printed circuit board, passive infrared sensor, liquid crystal display, Relay module, and other relative components. The device was vigorously tested in Precision Lab, Bangladesh Agricultural University. Laboratory tests were conducted to evaluate the device's repellent efficacy, considering factors such as range, coverage area, power consumption, and durability. The device functioned as it detected the presence of rodents and then released frequency by the positive signal for 30 s. The device generated ultrasonic signals within the range of 20-125 kHz and detected signals from any live substances up to 4.5 m with an error of a maximum of ±0.428 %. The frequency range of rodent hearing is approximately 20 Hz to 300 kHz, with the greatest sensitivity between 30 and 70 kHz, affecting their aural senses and causing discomfort. Therefore, the developed ultrasonic rodent-repellent circuit can be a practical and sustainable solution for repelling stored rodents, which mitigates storage losses caused by rodent infestations.

Foundation. I have been fortunate enough to collaborate with excellent undergraduate researchers through the IIBBS lab and the IRES program, but I am particularly indebted to the hard work and dedication from two spectacular students, Sophia Palia and Christine Folks. My fellow graduate students in the IIBBS lab, Ananda Menon, Juan Botero, Amanda Werrell, and Rachel Davis, have also provided me with unwavering support and cherished friendship throughout my time at W&M. Lastly, all of my gratitude and love goes out to the roommates of "Bio House," Dylan Simpson, Angela Ricono, and Bob Galvin. This project realized its full potential thanks to your friendship, insight, and frequent late-night science chats. LIST OF FIGURES 1. Aviary setup for both experimental and reference aviaries 2. Average node strength of experimental and reference birds throughout phases 3. Average GCC of experimental and reference birds throughout phases 4. Proportion of birds in experimental noise room before and during sound manipulation 5. Schematic for field experiment 6. Box-and-whisker plot of change in node strength of reference and experimental birds from before to during noise 7. Box-and-whisker plot of change in node strength of reference and experimental birds from during noise to after 8. Space use by each experimental group before and during noise

Pests cause huge damage that leads to high losses in crops and implicitly to lower yields in the agricultural sector. Of these, birds are also harmful in terms of crop damage, especially for high value crops (vineyards, trees, cereals, vegetables). In the pre-harvest period, birds (starlings, blackbirds, pigeons, sparrows, sowing crows) can be able to destroy about 60-70% of the crop in a very short time. Complete crop loss is possible if no deterring mechanisms are used. Farmers want to find an easy and cost-effective way to keep birds away from their crops because uncontrolled birds can completely destroy the whole crop. Finding a balance is difficult, so even modern equipment and great efforts will not prevent all the damage caused by bird attack, some of these devices may cause disturbing environments for people if they are not properly managed. However, the right tools and good management can reduce the attack of birds and conserve more crops. Currently, large research is orien...

ABSTRACTThe International Civil Aviation Organization promotes prioritization of wildlife management on airports, among other safety issues, by emphasizing the risk of wildlife–aircraft collisions (strikes). In its basic form, strike risk comprises a frequency component (i.e., how often strikes occur) and a severity component reflecting the cost of the incident. However, there is no widely accepted formula for estimating strike risk. Our goal was to develop a probabilistic risk metric that is adaptable for airports to use. Our specific objectives were to 1) update species‐specific, relative hazard scores (i.e., the likelihood of aircraft damage or effect on flight when strikes occur) using recent U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) wildlife strike data (2010–2015); 2) develop 4 a priori risk models, reflecting species‐specific strike data and updated relative hazard scores; 3) test these models against independent data (monetary costs associated with strikes); and 4) apply ou...

I 1 0.5 Time (seconfis) FIGURE 2. Sound spectrograph of male position note of Pacific-slope Flycatcher from Sierra Laguna, Baja California Sur. (1980) in southeastern Arizona (Table l), although the frequency spread of the descending portion (part 2) of syllable 2 is much narrower. Thus, Cordilleran Flycatchers in southern Mexico seem closely allied by song-type to those 1,200 km to the north in the interior southern United States, and their advertising songs show little gradation toward the songs given by the Yellowish Flycatcher (E. jluvescens, Johnson 1980:fig. 27), a sibling species breeding as close as 500 km to the Hidalgo site. Recordings of advertising songs of Cordilleran Flycatchers from Oaxaca and of Yellowish Flycatchers from southeastern Veracruz or southeastern Oaxaca, i.e., where these species' ranges approach most closely, would further clarify this situation (Johnson' s northernmost recordings of the latter species came from Nicaragua). We thank N. K. Johnson for comments on a draft of this paper. This is contribution number 534 of Point Reyes Bird Observatory. LITERATURE CITED AMEIUCAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION. 1989. Thirtyseventh supplement to the American Omithologists' Union checklist of North American Birds. Auk 106:532-538. JOHNSON, N. K. 1980. Character variation and evolution of sibling species in the Empidonax dz$cilis-jlavescens complex. Univ. Calif. Pub. Zool. 112:1-151. JOHNSON, N. K., AND J. MARTEN. 1988. Evolutionary genetics of flycatchers. II. Differentiation in the Empidonax di&' icilis complex. Auk 105:177-191.

Anthropogenic noise may be detrimental to many bird species, and manipulative experiments would help us understand these effects. We present the design and validation of a self-sustaining solarpowered broadcasting system that will allow researchers to disentangle acute or chronic effects of noise from effects of the presence of infrastructure, even in remote areas. We tested the broadcasting system using a case study on noise from oil well infrastructure in southern Alberta, Canada. Recordings from 2 types of oil wells were obtained and then broadcasted through 6 independent playback units continuously for a period of 3 months in 2013, at sites undisturbed by oil development. Sound measurements at real oil wells and at sites with broadcasting systems simulating the noise from these oil wells demonstrated that real and projected noise had very similar sound pressure levels, attenuation trends, and spectral composition. Throughout this long-term playback experiment, the system produced power and noise reliably and consistently. In conjunction with bird surveys, this experimental design and infrastructure can be used to allow researchers to dissociate the presence of anthropogenic development from associated noise, providing us with information that will help decrease the environmental impacts of human activities.

An integrated bird risk management system was implemented, including the formation of a database, habitat modification, animal transportation, and breaking down the airport food chain, while promoting safety and environmental culture. The study shows a significant decrease in the number of birds monitored at the airport without adversely affecting their natural environment or places for bird watching, particularly for the two main types of residential and migratory birds, pigeons, and white storks. The implementation of these measures also led to a significant decrease in bird strikes over the study period from 2018 to 2022, including confirmed and unconfirmed cases, even without the impact of bird-watching tourism.

The problem faced by rice farmers in terms of bird scaring is quite worrisome and demands urgent intervention especially at this critical period in the history of our dear country when the price of rice is increasing almost on daily basis as a result of land border closure against the importation of rice coupled with covid-19 pandemic and inability of indigenous farmers to meet up with local consumption demands. According to the local reports in Nigeria, quelea birds invasions of many major rice farms in Jigawa, Kebbi, Kano, Kaduna, Ogun and Ekiti account for over 15% loss in rice production yearly. This has been one of the major discouraging factors affecting rice production in Nigeria. Unchecked birds invasion of farm badly affects the quantity and quality of farm produce. The use of women and children in tedious and laborious work of bird scaring should be discouraged because it negatively affect productivity as precious time is devoted on birds scaring process thereby affecting ...

Wildlife-aircraft collisions (wildlife strikes) pose a serious risk to aircraft and cost civil aviation in the United States an estimated $957 million annually. Blackbirds and doves in particular have caused some of the most devastating aircraft accidents related to wildlife strikes in the United States and Europe. Birds perching on security fences and other structures are a problem at airports and other locations where birds are not desired. Reduction of available perching sites should make airports less attractive to these species and thus reduce the risk of damaging wildlife strikes. We conducted a series of experiments to determine if 3 species of birds hazardous to aviation [i.e., mourning doves (Zenaida macroura), common grackles (Quiscalus quiscula), and brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus atar)] were deterred from perching sites at the top of a 3-stranded security fence by the application of Razor–ribbonTM Helical razor-wire. We determined bird use (for perching) of 3-stranded ...

Birds are often considered to be outstanding indicators of the health of the overall environment [6]. A bird strike is strictly defined as a collision between a bird and an aircraft which is in flight or on a takeoff or landing roll. The term is often expanded to cover other wildlife strikeswith bats or ground animals [8].Indian airports have recorded a steady increase in number of bird hits and aircraft run-ins with stray animals over at least the past five years, according to official data, illustrating the potential safety risks and losses the aviation industry confronts from such accidents as the fleet of planes operated by domestic airlines expands rapidly [7] .In 2018, the number of bird hits and animal strikes was 1,244, compared with 1,125 in 2017, 839 in 2016, 764 in 2015 and 719 in 2014, according to Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) data provided in response to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by Hindustan Times [7]. It was 4.82 in 2018, down from 4.98 in 2014, a DGCA official said on condition of anonymity [7]. To overcome this problem, we are going to use "Ultrasonic radiation "that will be radiated during the flight takeoff and landing which disturbs the birds (without harming them) and also not affecting the pilots during their flight.

An integrated bird risk management system was implemented, including the formation of a database, habitat modification, animal transportation, and breaking down the airport food chain, while promoting safety and environmental culture. The study shows a significant decrease in the number of birds monitored at the airport without adversely affecting their natural environment or places for bird watching, particularly for the two main types of residential and migratory birds, pigeons, and white storks. The implementation of these measures also led to a significant decrease in bird strikes over the study period from 2018 to 2022, including confirmed and unconfirmed cases, even without the impact of bird-watching tourism.

Birds are often considered to be outstanding indicators of the health of the overall environment [6]. A bird strike is strictly defined as a collision between a bird and an aircraft which is in flight or on a takeoff or landing roll. The term is often expanded to cover other wildlife strikeswith bats or ground animals [8].Indian airports have recorded a steady increase in number of bird hits and aircraft run-ins with stray animals over at least the past five years, according to official data, illustrating the potential safety risks and losses the aviation industry confronts from such accidents as the fleet of planes operated by domestic airlines expands rapidly [7] .In 2018, the number of bird hits and animal strikes was 1,244, compared with 1,125 in 2017, 839 in 2016, 764 in 2015 and 719 in 2014, according to Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) data provided in response to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by Hindustan Times [7]. It was 4.82 in 2018, down from 4.98 in 2014, a DGCA official said on condition of anonymity [7]. To overcome this problem, we are going to use "Ultrasonic radiation "that will be radiated during the flight takeoff and landing which disturbs the birds (without harming them) and also not affecting the pilots during their flight.

Wildlife-aircraft collisions (wildlife strikes) pose a serious risk to aircraft and cost civil aviation in the United States an estimated $957 million annually. Blackbirds and doves in particular have caused some of the most devastating aircraft accidents related to wildlife strikes in the United States and Europe. Birds perching on security fences and other structures are a problem at airports and other locations where birds are not desired. Reduction of available perching sites should make airports less attractive to these species and thus reduce the risk of damaging wildlife strikes. We conducted a series of experiments to determine if 3 species of birds hazardous to aviation [i.e., mourning doves (Zenaida macroura), common grackles (Quiscalus quiscula), and brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus atar)] were deterred from perching sites at the top of a 3-stranded security fence by the application of Razor–ribbonTM Helical razor-wire. We determined bird use (for perching) of 3-stranded ...

Resumen La transformación y el crecimiento de las ciudades han llevado al surgimiento de problemáticasde conservación que han sido poco estudiadas en el trópico. Este es el caso de las colisiones de las aves contra diferentes estructuras urbanas, que se estima cobra miles de millones de víctimas año tras año alrededor del mundo. Entre abril de 2006 y noviembre de 2008 registramos 106 choques de 18 especies (11 migratorias boreales y 7 residentes) contra los ventanales de seis edificios del campus de la Pontificia Universidad Javeriana de Bogotá; 88% de las colisiones fueron fatales para las aves. Encontramos que los migratorios boreales chocaron con ventanales con mayor frecuencia que las especies residentes y que la época de más colisiones era la de la migración otoñal de estas aves. Determinamos que los ventanales a través de las cuales las aves podrían ver vegetación al otro lado fueron más peligrosos (73% de todas las colisiones) para las aves que los que simplemente reflejaban la vegetación o el cielo. Extrapolando nuestros resultados, calculamos que podrían ocurrir cerca de 271 colisiones anuales contra ventanales en todo el campus. Invitamos a otros observadores a extender estas observaciones y a coleccionar como especímenes científicos a las aves que mueren para que puedan ser fuentes de información sobre patrones de migración, ampliación de rangos de distribución y la potencial de amenaza nacional y global para algunas especies. Discutimos algunas posibles medidas de mitigación y sugerimos implementar y someter a prueba a algunas de las que han sido efectivasen otras latitudes.

Each year, billions of birds collide with large human-made structures, such as building, towers, and turbines, causing substantial mortality. Such bird-strike, which is projected to increase, poses risks to populations of birds and causes significant economic costs to many industries. Mitigation technologies have been deployed in an attempt to reduce bird-strike, but have been met with limited success. One reason for bird-strike may be that birds fail to pay adequate attention to the space directly in front of them when in level, cruising flight. A warning signal projected in front of a potential strike surface might attract visual attention and reduce the risks of collision. We tested this idea in captive zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) that were trained to fly down a long corridor and through an open wooden frame. Once birds were trained, they each experienced three treatments at unpredictable times and in a randomized order: a loud sound field projected immediately in front of the open wooden frame; a mist net (i.e., a benign strike surface) placed inside the wooden frame; and both the loud sound and the mist net. We found that birds slowed their flight approximately 20% more when the sound field was projected in front of the mist net compared with when the mist net was presented alone. This reduction in velocity would equate to a substantial reduction in the force of any collision. In addition to slowing down, birds increased the angle of attack of their body and tail, potentially allowing for more maneuverable flight. Concomitantly, the only cases where birds avoided the mist net occurred in the soundaugmented treatment. Interestingly, the sound field by itself did not demonstrably alter flight. Although our study was conducted in a limited setting, the alterations of flight associated with our sound field has implications for reducing bird-strike in nature and we encourage researchers to test our ideas in field trials.

Fruit producers have identified bird damage as a critical issue that has received limited attention from researchers. A USDA study estimated that birds cost producers in 7 states tens of millions of dollars through fruit loss and management efforts. Despite these costs, research has been uncoordinated and piecemeal, leaving producers with few, well-tested management options. We describe several objectives to strive for in order to achieve the goal of providing producers with region-specific, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable bird management strategies. These objectives include 1) quantifying economic consequences of bird damage for producers, consumers, and regional economies, and determining costs and benefits of various management techniques; 2) identifying amounts of damage attributable to specific bird species across crops and regions; 3) determining how bird damage varies within and across spatial scales (orchard, landscape, region); 4) evaluating consumer responses to management strategies and potential effects on marketing; 5) integrating economic, biological, and consumer information, i.e. using a systems approach, to determine the management strategies that should be tested; and 6) testing management strategies for efficacy with replicated, well-controlled experimental designs. By focusing on these objectives and coordinating activities among researchers and extension personnel from different regions of the country and from different disciplines, we will maximize efficiency in addressing this issue on a national scale while providing individual producers with region-specific information to guide their bird management efforts. Communication among researchers, extension personnel, and producers will be critical to minimize the costs of bird damage.