Controlling Birds: Strategies For Airport Safety And Efficiency

Birds and planes don't mix. While most bird-plane collisions only result in minor damage, there have been incidents where planes have lost engines after hitting birds. Airports are therefore tasked with finding ways to control birds and prevent bird strikes. This is challenging because airports often provide what birds crave: water, cover, and food. Airports have tried a variety of methods to deter birds, from simple to downright wacky, including firing air cannons, using trained dogs, and altering the landscape.

Using dogs to chase birds away

Training dogs to chase away birds is a creative way to ensure safety at airports. Dogs can be trained to use their predatory posture to "herd" birds out of airfield space, creating safer runways for planes. This method has been proven effective and has kept airfields bird-free for a quarter of a century.

One example of a dog trained to chase birds away is a border collie named Maverick, who works at Bentonville Municipal Airport in Arkansas. Maverick's job is to get rid of the geese on and near the airport grounds. The Hawaii Department of Transportation has also invested in border collies for this purpose.

While trained dogs are used in airports globally for tracking and chasing away birds, there are some challenges to this method. The fear instilled in the birds only prevents them from nesting, feeding, and resting in the area for as long as the dogs are present. Once the dogs are removed, the birds will return. Additionally, dogs can scare birds in any direction, which can cause bird strikes on the runway if not appropriately managed.

The cost of maintaining and training dogs, as well as training handlers, is another factor that limits the use of this method in some places.

Scaring birds with light and noise

Pyrotechnics and Cannons

Pyrotechnics and cannons are a popular method to scare birds away from airports. These methods involve firing explosives, such as firecrackers and propane cannons, into the air to create loud noises that startle the birds. Birds naturally spook at loud noises, causing them to take flight as they perceive danger approaching. While effective, birds can become accustomed to these methods over time, especially if used consistently at the same time every day. To mitigate this, airports should vary the timing and location of pyrotechnics and cannons to keep the birds guessing.

Acoustic Deterrents

Acoustic deterrents, or noise deterrents, are another way to scare birds using sound. These can include pistols firing blank rounds or propane cannons. One example of an acoustic deterrent is the Bio-Acoustics system, which broadcasts natural bird distress calls that signal danger to other birds. This method requires knowledge of the species and direction of the oncoming birds to be effective. Additionally, different species of birds react differently to distress calls, so understanding their behaviour is crucial to ensure the calls do not inadvertently direct them into more dangerous flight paths.

Lasers

Lasers are an effective tool for scaring birds by taking advantage of their visual abilities and instincts. Birds perceive laser beams as physical objects and will naturally avoid them. Lasers are safe, silent, and considered impossible for birds to get accustomed to, making them a reliable choice for deterrence. However, it is important to note that even low-powered lasers can cause blindness in humans, so proper safety precautions must be implemented when using this method.

Using nets and spikes to deter birds

Nets and spikes are both physical barriers that can be used to deter birds from entering hangars, storage areas, outcroppings, and balconies at airports.

Nets

To effectively use nets, it is important to identify the types of birds that are causing problems. The size of the mesh in the net should be chosen based on the type of bird you are dealing with. For example, a 4-inch mesh is suitable for larger birds like seagulls, while smaller mesh sizes are needed for blackbirds, starlings, and even smaller birds like swallows or sparrows.

Spikes

Spikes can be placed on runway signs, radar equipment, and aircraft hangars to prevent birds from perching. Airport bird spikes come in various splay widths, ranging from one to ten inches. While spikes can help prevent perching in these areas, birds will likely find other resting places within the airport.

In addition to nets and spikes, electrified tracks are another option for narrow areas like ledges. These tracks will give birds a harmless shock and require professional installation.

Bird effigies and distress calls

Turkey vultures are a significant threat to aircraft due to their large size and soaring flight. Hanging a real dead vulture or a stuffed one will make all vultures vacate the area. A federal study from 2009 and a National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine guidebook on addressing wildlife at general aviation airports confirmed the effectiveness of this method. This method also works on gulls and ravens.

Broadcasting distress calls to lure birds away from air traffic and towards the source of the call is a tactic that has been used successfully at Dulles International Airport. However, it is not always effective, as not all birds have distress calls, and its effectiveness depends on the time of year. The sounds may also upset or annoy people in the area.

Radar systems and air cannons

Radar systems are an important tool in the detection and mitigation of bird strikes, which are on the rise, costing airlines up to US$1.36 billion a year. Bird strikes have also caused damage and loss of life throughout aviation history. Radar systems help to predict bird behaviour by tracking the movement and density of bird flocks in real time. This allows airports to manage control techniques more effectively.

Robin Radar Systems, for example, offers a bird radar monitoring subscription that provides data on bird activity, allowing airports to take control of bird hazard issues. Their MAX system tracks thousands of birds simultaneously, providing data on height, size, speed, direction, and flight path. It has a 360-degree coverage with a 6-8km tracking classification range for large birds and at least a 1km altitude range.

Air cannons are another tool used to deter birds at airports. They create loud noises that disrupt the environment of birds, causing them to take flight as they perceive danger approaching. While this method can be effective, birds can become accustomed to the sound over time. Therefore, it is important to mix up the use of air cannons with other deterrence methods to keep the birds guessing.

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