The assemblage of birds struck by aircraft differs among nearby airports in the same bioregion

William K Steele,Michael A Weston

doi:10.1071/wr20127

Abstract

Abstract Context Bird–aircraft collisions impose an economic cost and safety risk, yet ecological studies that inform bird hazard management are few, and to date no study has formally compared species’ strike profiles across airports. In response to strike risks, airports have implemented customised management on an airport-by-airport basis, based on the assumption that strike risk stems from prevailing local circumstances. We tested this assumption by comparing a decade of wildlife–aircraft strikes at three airports situated in the same bioregion (likely to have similar fauna) of Victoria, Australia. Aim To compare the assemblage of wildlife struck by aircraft at three major airports in the same bioregion. Method Standardised wildlife strike data were analysed from three airports (Avalon, Melbourne and Essendon Airports), in the Victorian Volcanic Plains bioregion, central Victoria, Australia. Ten discrete 1-year sampling periods from each airport were compared, spanning the period 2009–19. Bird data were comparable, and data on mammals were considered less reliable, so emphasis was placed on birds in the present study. Results In total, 580 bird strikes were analysed, with the most commonly struck species being Australian magpie (Cracticus tibicen; 16.7%), Eurasian skylark (Alauda arvensis; 12.2%), Australian pipit (Anthus australis; 12.1%), masked lapwing (Vanellus miles; 5.9%), nankeen kestrel (Falco cenchroides; 5.0%), house sparrow (Passer domesticus; 4.8%), welcome swallow (Hirundo neoxena; 4.3%) and tree martin (Petrochelidon nigricans; 4.0%). The assemblage of birds struck by aircraft over the decade of study differed between airports. The most commonly struck species drove the assemblage differences between airports. Conclusions and implications In the present study system, airports experienced discrete strike risk profiles, even though they are in the same bioregion. The airports examined differed in terms of air traffic movement rates, aircraft types, landscape context and bird hazard management effort. Given that strike risks profiles differ among airports, customised management at each airport, as is currently the case, is supported.

Highlights

Aircraft strikes on wildlife are not common events, they present a real hazard to aircraft and exact a significant cost in terms of both human lives and money (Cleary and Dolbeer 2005; El-Sayed 2019)
Continued exacerbation of the problem seems likely – it has been suggested that modern commercial aircraft, which are quieter and have larger engine air intakes than older models, are involved in proportionately more bird strikes than older aircraft because birds are less able to detect them in time to avoid collisions (Chilvers et al 1997; Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat 1999)
Assuming the wildlife communities at these three aerodromes were similar by virtue of being in the same bioregion, we investigated whether the bird species struck by aircraft at each aerodrome were similar

Summary

Introduction

Aircraft strikes on wildlife are not common events, they present a real hazard to aircraft and exact a significant cost in terms of both human lives and money (Cleary and Dolbeer 2005; El-Sayed 2019). Continued exacerbation of the problem seems likely – it has been suggested that modern commercial aircraft, which are quieter and have larger engine air intakes than older models, are involved in proportionately more bird strikes than older aircraft because birds are less able to detect them in time to avoid collisions (Chilvers et al 1997; Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat 1999). The threat of bird strikes in the vicinity of an airport is increased because some bird species congregate at these sites (Burger 1983; E&SS 1994; Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat 1999; Transport Canada 2004; DeVault et al 2013; El-Sayed 2019). The management of wildlife at airports – bird populations – to reduce the risk of wildlife strikes is becoming increasingly important to airport operators, including those in www.publish.csiro.au/journals/wr

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