Geese, Airports, And Food: What's The Deal?

Canada geese are a common sight at airports, where they feed on the plentiful grass surrounding runways. While geese are herbivores, eating grass, shoots, seeds, and weeds, they can pose a significant threat to planes, as bird strikes can cause engine failure. As a result, airports must implement strategies to control and remove geese from their premises, such as using trained dogs, repellents, and deterrents.

Grass is the main food source for geese

Grass is the primary food source for geese, and airports often provide ample feeding. Geese are grazing birds, and Canada geese, in particular, seek out plentiful grass to feed on. They prefer short, fresh, young, tender, green grass, such as new shoots, clovers, bluegrass, orchard grass, timothy, and bromegrass. Grass contains all the vitamins and minerals that geese need, but only when it is fresh in the spring. Domestic geese can be fed mainly on grass during the spring and early summer if it is kept cut short, about 8 cm or 3 inches long.

In addition to grass, geese also eat seeds, grains, and other plant matter. In the fall, when grasslands may become depleted from overgrazing, geese will switch to a diet that includes more seeds and grains, such as barley, wheat, corn, maize, and oats. These seeds and grains are rich in carbohydrates and provide the energy needed for migration. Geese may also dabble in the water to feed on roots, stems, and rhizomes of rushes and reeds, as well as aquatic plants like watercress, seaweed, and kelp.

While geese primarily eat grass, they will also occasionally consume animal-based foods, such as insects and small fish. However, animal matter makes up only a tiny portion of their diet. It is important to note that feeding bread to geese, as they are often fond of, can be detrimental to their health and lead to a condition called angel wing, which can cause permanent flightlessness.

Geese also eat shoots, seeds, and grains

Geese are herbivores, and their diet consists almost entirely of vegetarian foods. Grass is a staple of their diet, and they prefer short, fresh, young, tender, green grass, such as bluegrass, orchard grass, and clovers. They also eat shoots, seeds, and grains. In fact, in the fall, when grasslands are depleted from overgrazing, many geese switch their diet to include more seeds and grains, which are rich in carbohydrates and provide vital energy stores for migration. Popular seeds and grains foraged by geese include barley, wheat, corn, maize, and oats.

Geese are also known to eat wheat fed to them in buckets of water, as well as whole wheat, which is high in protein and easily digestible. Domestic geese are offered layers of pellets during the breeding season to provide calcium. In the winter, when grass is scarce, geese eat hay, wheat, and cabbage.

At airports, geese feed on the plentiful grass that surrounds the runways and fields. Their presence poses a significant threat to aircraft, as bird strikes can result in severe damage, as seen in the case of US Airways Flight 1549, which made an emergency landing in the Hudson River after losing both engines to bird strikes.

Geese are attracted to airports due to the ample grass

Geese are herbivores and their diet consists mostly of grass and weeds. They are particularly fond of young, tender, green, short, fresh grass, such as bluegrass, orchard grass, and clovers. In fact, grass makes up 80% of their diet in the warmer months. Airports and airfields often provide ample feeding for geese, with their wide-open grassy areas.

Grazing birds, Canada geese, in particular, are drawn to these grassy expanses. They also feed on shoots, seeds, rushes, aquatic plants, and roots. In the fall, when grasslands are sparse, their diet shifts to include more seeds and grains, such as wheat, corn, and oats. While animal-based foods are not a significant part of their diet, they may occasionally eat insects and small fish.

The presence of geese at airports poses a significant threat to aviation safety, as bird strikes can lead to dangerous incidents. As a result, airports invest in goose control programs to deter geese from taking residence in these areas. These programs may include methods such as chemical sprays, landscape redesign, trained dogs, bird repellents, and sound systems.

One approach to eliminating the food source for geese at airports is through the use of goose repellents. These repellents, containing methyl anthranilate, are sprayed on the grass, altering its taste and encouraging geese to seek food elsewhere. Additionally, sound devices that play goose distress calls and predator calls can be employed to scare the geese away.

While geese are attracted to the ample grass that airports provide, effective goose control measures are necessary to mitigate the risks associated with bird strikes and ensure the safety of both humans and birds.

Airports use repellents and deterrents to keep geese away

Airports employ various methods to keep geese away, as these birds can be a serious threat to aircraft safety. For example, on January 15, 2009, a US Airways flight ended up in the Hudson River after losing both engines to bird strikes, specifically from flying through a flock of Canada geese.

One method to deter geese is to use repellents and chemicals. A goose repellent can be sprayed on the grass that the geese are feeding on. This repellent is often a mixture of Methyl anthranilate, a grape extract that occurs naturally in concord grapes. The substance grows into the blades of grass and "flavors" them so that the geese do not like the taste, encouraging them to move on to a more palatable food source.

Another product on the market is bird fogging units, which distribute methyl anthranilate in a fine mist that irritates the birds' trigeminal nerve and mucous membranes when it comes into contact with their eyes, nose, or mouth. This method is used successfully in open areas to keep pest birds away.

In addition to repellents, deterrents such as sound devices can be used in conjunction with liquid repellents. These sound devices play goose distress calls and predator calls to scare the geese. Other deterrents include using specially trained Border Collies, known as "goose dogs," which use their cunning and intense stare to convince geese that a predator is nearby. These dogs do not harm the birds but instead use their persistence to make the geese understand they are not welcome.

Geese are a danger to planes and can cause crashes

Geese are a significant threat to flight safety and can cause crashes. Airports are responsible for what takes place on their property, and bird control is a liability. Canada geese, in particular, are a problem for airports as they are large birds that fly in large numbers. They are also a protected species under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

The presence of geese near airports is a concern because of the danger they pose to planes. Geese often feed on the plentiful grass found near airports, and their habit of returning to locations they like means that they can become a persistent issue. While bird strikes are a common occurrence, they can have severe consequences for aircraft. The impact of a bird hitting an aircraft engine can be compared to a brick hitting a pane of glass, shattering the turbine. This can lead to engine failure and, in some cases, cause planes to crash.

On January 15, 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 was forced to make an emergency landing in the Hudson River after colliding with a flock of geese during takeoff, resulting in a complete loss of thrust from both engines. Similarly, on September 22, 1995, a U.S. Air Force plane crashed shortly after takeoff due to engine damage caused by ingesting several Canada geese. These incidents highlight the potential for catastrophic events when geese and aircraft come into contact.

To mitigate the risk of bird strikes, airports employ various strategies, including the use of trained dogs, repellents, and deterrents. The key to effective goose control is to eliminate their food sources and make the airport environment uncomfortable for them. This can be achieved through the use of goose repellents, such as Methyl anthranilate, a grape extract that naturally occurs in concord grapes. By spraying this substance on the grass, it "flavours" the blades of grass, making it unpalatable to the geese. Airports may also use an integrated approach, combining methods such as cannons, bird repellents, and sound systems to keep geese away.

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