Ruth Haines
Birds are a major threat to flight safety, causing an estimated $1.2 billion in damages to commercial aircraft worldwide each year. To mitigate this, airports employ various strategies to scare them away, including the use of visual devices, audio, and even animals. In a unique approach, Gloucestershire Airport in England has resorted to playing Tina Turner songs like Simply the Best from a van driving up and down the runways. This unusual method proved successful when the usual bird distress noises failed to work, showcasing Tina Turner's powerful voice as an effective bird deterrent.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Gloucestershire Airport, Staverton, England |
| Songs | "Simply the Best" by Tina Turner |
| Other methods | Bird distress noises, bird-of-prey calls, pyrotechnics, lasers, trained predators, lethal methods |
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What You'll Learn
Tina Turner's songs used at Gloucestershire Airport
In 2012, Gloucestershire Airport in Staverton started playing Tina Turner songs to scare away birds from its runway. The airport typically used bird distress calls to keep birds away, but when the system malfunctioned, staff turned to a tape player and found that Turner's powerful voice was just as effective.
The Head of Operations at the airport, Darren Lewington, told the Gloucestershire Echo:
> Normally, we use the speakers on the top of the vehicle we use to drive around the airport to play bird distress calls. But when our bird distress noises weren't working properly, they turned the tape player on, and that day it was Tina Turner who scared the birds away.
Gloucestershire Airport's operations team noted that gulls and crows were their biggest problem, with around 20,000 gulls passing through the Severn Valley daily. These birds posed a significant risk to flights taking off and landing at the council-owned airport.
To address this issue, the airport resorted to playing Turner's hits like "Simply the Best" from a loudspeaker mounted on a van that was driven up and down the runways. By blasting Turner's songs at high volume, the airport successfully scared away the birds, ensuring safer conditions for aircraft and passengers alike.
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Bird distress calls used to scare birds
Bird distress calls are an effective way to scare birds and prevent them from nesting or roosting in unwanted areas. These calls exploit a bird's natural alertness and sensitive hearing, similar to that of humans. The sounds are designed to resemble normal birdcalls to the human ear, ensuring they do not disturb pets, neighbours, or household members.
Bird B Gone's Bird Repellent Sound Systems are designed for large, open spaces such as backyards, rooftops, and gardens, and are suitable for residential, commercial, industrial, municipal, and agricultural use. Their Bird Chase Units play audible bird distress calls, warning programmed species to flee the area. These units can also play recorded hawk sounds to scare birds away from the general area. The Bird Chase Super Sonic, for example, broadcasts distress calls for up to 24 species of birds and can cover areas of up to 1 acre, with the ability to extend using additional speakers.
The effectiveness of sound bird deterrents can be increased by pairing them with visual scare products, such as reflective tape, decoy predators, or laser bird repellents. This triggers the birds' instincts to quickly flee the area as they associate the sound with the visual predator decoy. It is also recommended to start using sound deterrents early, before birds have a chance to settle, and to rotate sounds regularly to prevent birds from becoming accustomed to them.
Sound bird deterrents are a humane and flexible solution to pest bird problems, allowing users to target specific bird species or deter all birds. They can be programmed to turn on and off automatically and can be placed in remote locations, making them a convenient and adaptable tool for bird control.
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Pyrotechnics and firecrackers used to deter birds
While some airports, like Gloucestershire Airport in Staverton, have used music and recordings of bird distress calls to scare away birds, pyrotechnics and firecrackers are another method used to deter birds and other wildlife.
Bird scaring pyrotechnics, also known as bird bangers, bird bombs, or bird whistlers, are a common method used to scare away unwanted birds. These devices produce a very loud "BANG" or thunderclap-like noise that startles the birds and causes them to flee. They are often fired from handheld or cannon launchers and can be purchased from companies like Gemplers and Sutton Agricultural Enterprises, Inc. Bird bangers are safe, effective, and easy to use, and they do not harm the birds. The use of these devices is regulated, and certain requirements, such as a Declaration of Use II on file, may be necessary for purchase.
The loud noise created by pyrotechnics and firecrackers can be particularly effective in scaring away birds and preventing them from causing damage to property or posing a hazard at airports. By creating a sudden and unexpected loud noise, the birds are startled and will typically move away from the source of the noise. This method can be especially useful in situations where other bird deterrence methods, such as distress calls or recorded bird noises, may not be as effective or have lost their impact over time.
The use of pyrotechnics and firecrackers can be a quick and efficient way to deter birds without causing them harm. The loud noise created by these devices can cover a large area, making it effective for scaring away multiple birds simultaneously. Additionally, the visual impact of the pyrotechnics can also play a role in deterring the birds, as the sudden flash or explosion can add to the overall startling effect.
However, it is important to note that the use of pyrotechnics and firecrackers should be approached with caution and in adherence to local regulations. Proper safety measures should be followed to ensure the safety of both the users and the surrounding environment. Additionally, while these methods can be effective in the short term, birds may eventually become accustomed to the loud noises, reducing their effectiveness over time. As such, it is often recommended to vary the methods used to deter birds and not solely rely on pyrotechnics and firecrackers.
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Trained predators make airports inhospitable for birds
Birds can cause significant issues at airports, from unsightly messes to dangerous slip-and-fall hazards and even potential bird strikes. To address these concerns, airports have implemented various bird control methods, including sound deterrents. While some airports play bird distress calls, others have turned to playing loud music, such as Tina Turner's "Simply the Best," to startle the birds and encourage them to vacate the premises.
However, birds can become accustomed to certain sounds over time, reducing the effectiveness of these methods. This has led to the development of more advanced techniques, such as the use of trained predators. Birds have sensitive hearing and are naturally alert to their surroundings, so specific sounds can create an environment that feels unsafe for them.
One innovative approach is the use of airport bird control drones that resemble birds of prey. These drones combine wing and silhouette movements to trigger the instincts of birds, making them believe that a real threat is present. The advantage of these drones is that they do not require food, shelter, or rest, making them a practical and efficient solution.
In addition to drones, airports can also employ falconry, which involves using trained falcons or other birds of prey to reinforce the local threat and keep birds away. This method provides a more permanent solution by establishing a consistent presence of trained predators in the area. By combining the use of drones and falconry, airports can create an inhospitable environment for birds, reducing their population over time and minimizing the risks associated with bird strikes.
While these methods are effective in scaring birds away from airports, it is important to note that combining them with other strategies, such as visual deterrents, can enhance their effectiveness. Visual deterrents can include reflective tape, decoy predators, laser bird repellents, or bird netting. Additionally, implementing sound deterrents early on, before birds have a chance to establish nesting or roosting habits, is crucial for success.
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Bird strikes: a threat to flight safety
Bird strikes, or bird aircraft strike hazards (BASH), are a serious threat to flight safety. A bird strike is a collision between a bird and an aircraft and is usually fatal to the bird. While the majority of bird strikes (65%) cause little damage to the aircraft, they can, in some cases, be devastating and cause human casualties. There are over 13,000 bird strikes in the US alone each year, and bird strikes cost US aviation $400 million annually. Since 1988, over 200 people have died worldwide as a result of bird strikes.
Bird strikes most often occur during take-off and landing, when aircraft are at low altitudes, and bird activity is higher. Waterfowl, gulls, and raptors are the types of birds most commonly involved in bird strikes, accounting for 75% of all reported strikes. The risk of bird strikes has increased with the growth in both large bird populations and aircraft traffic.
To mitigate the risk of bird strikes, airports employ various strategies, including habitat management, bird hazing, and the use of avian radar. Habitat management involves making the area around the airport less attractive to birds by removing perches, carcasses, and food sources. Bird hazing includes non-lethal methods such as using dogs or falcons to chase birds away or playing loud sounds, such as bird distress calls or music. Avian radar is used to track bird activity and provide real-time threat alerts to aircraft.
Pilots can also take precautions to avoid bird strikes, such as altering flight schedules to avoid periods of high bird activity and using tools like Doppler weather radar to spot bird activity along flight routes. In the event of a bird strike, it is important to first regain control of the aircraft and then report the strike to airport management and air traffic control.
By implementing these measures and utilizing new technologies, airports, and pilots can work together to reduce the threat of bird strikes and improve flight safety.
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Frequently asked questions
Tina Turner's songs, such as "Simply the Best", are played at Gloucestershire Airport in Staverton, England, to scare away birds from the runways. The songs are played from a loudspeaker mounted on a van that is driven up and down the runways.
Bird strikes are a major issue for airports and can cause significant damage to aircraft. Bird problems are not limited to active runways, as birds can also perch and roost in hangars, and their excrement can erode the exterior of planes.
Airports use a variety of methods to deter birds, including:
- Pyrotechnics and firecrackers
- Bird-of-prey and distress calls
- Lethal control of selected individuals of common species
- Trapping and relocating larger birds of prey
- Habitat modifications to minimize food, cover, and water
- Visual devices such as lasers, flags, scarecrows, or fake dead animals
- Audio devices such as sonic cannons
