Bentonville Municipal Airport has a Maverick on its team, but unlike the Maverick of Top Gun aviation movie fame, this one is no fan of Goose. The Maverick in Bentonville, Arkansas is actually a border collie, and his job is to get rid of the geese on and near airport grounds.
Training dogs to chase birds is just one of the creative ways that wildlife experts work to ensure safety at the nations airports. Their tactics range from audio, visual and chemical repellants to habitat modification, physical barriers and population management.
As the FAAs wildlife strike database shows, plenty of animal species are attracted to the open fields and other features of the airport environment. Even alligators have been known to cause trouble on Florida runways. But the biggest threat is birds flying into the paths of airplanes, the most famous incident being the Miracle on the Hudson.
Airports have learned through experience that some techniques to prevent bird hazards simply dont work. Plastic owls are one example. The fake birds of prey might scare other bird species temporarily, but they eventually realize the plastic owls dont pose a threat.
They look great sitting in your office more than at the airport, FAA wildlife biologist John Weller said.
But some deterrents are quite effective, especially when catered to the realities of each airport and changed as avian interlopers adapt. Here are nine tactics that work (to varying degrees):
Trained dogs and birds of prey. There arent many dogs like Maverick at U.S. airports because of the costs of maintaining and training the dog and training handlers, but they do exist. The Hawaii Department of Transportation recently invested in border collies, which were featured on the Disney+ show Its a Dogs Life with Bill Farmer this year. Trained birds of prey also are rare at U.S. airports because of the costs, but Anderson said Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport used them to chase roosting birds from a parking lot. She said the key with birds of prey is to focus on a small area with a specific target and use them consistently.
Bird effigies. Turkey vultures are large and like to soar, characteristics that make them a threat to aircraft. But they dont like the sight (or smell) of their deceased friends. If you hang up a real dead vulture or one that has been stuffed, every vulture will vacate the tower or wherever youre trying to remove them from, Weller said, noting a 2009 federal study of the practice. A National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine guidebook on addressing wildlife at general aviation airports noted that bird effigies frighten gulls and ravens, too.
Grape flavoring. Drinking the Kool-Aid doesnt appeal to gulls, so it appealed to the operators of one airport trying to keep gulls out of the water that pooled after heavy rains. After staff spread grape-flavored drink mix into the pools, Weller said, one bitter taste was enough to discourage the gulls. Airports also use methyl anthranilate (grape-seed extract) as a non-lethal, budget-friendly method to deter geese and whitetail deer. It can also be safer: Some of the chemical agents are very dangerous, and only people with licenses can use them, FAA wildlife biologist Amy Anderson noted.
Golf tees. Weller said birds at one airport developed an affinity for perching on taxiway light posts, and their excrement inhibited the visibility of the lights. To address the problem, airport personnel glued golf tees to the light posts with the points facing upward. Suddenly the light posts were less on par (ahem) with the birds preferred perch.
Plastic projectiles. While paintball players are used to suffering hits during matches, that sting is enough to drive away nettlesome large birds like geese. Airports may prefer paintballs and other plastic projectiles over more toxic agents or deadly weapons. Its good because its not lethal, but it does have consequences, Anderson said.
Remote-controlled vehicles. Some airports use remote-controlled cars and boats to flush birds. Weller worked with one team that used remote-controlled boats to corral about 200 geese during molting season and then march them out of the lake to a new location. Unmanned aircraft systems built to look like falcons are an emerging option, but they are expensive, require advanced training to operate and are limited by the Airborne Hunting Act.
Pyrotechnics and cannons. Birds are as spooked by fireworks as your dog on the Fourth of July. Thats probably one of the most used tools, Anderson said. They are explosives, and they are regulated by the [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms], so you have to make sure you follow the rules. Propane cannons work, too. But birds acclimate to both methods, especially if used at the same time every day. Ive seen birds perched on propane cannons, Weller said. You just have to mix it up to keep the birds guessing, Anderson said of sound-driven deterrents.
Distress calls. Broadcasts of distress calls to lure birds to the source and away from air traffic are hit or miss because not all birds have distress calls. Their effectiveness also depends on the time of year, Anderson said. You always have to have it integrated with something else. The sounds could upset or prove annoying to nearby people who hear them more than the birds, Weller said, but distress calls have been used successfully at Dulles International Airport.
Handheld lasers. In the wrong hands, lasers are a threat to aviation safety with serious legal consequences for people who break the law. But the FAA also recognizes that lasers can help create separation between birds and aircraft. They can be very effective if used correctly and for the right species, Weller said. An FAA advisory governs outdoor laser operations.
Learn more about how the FAA researches and manages wildlife on or near airports.
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Why Use Bird Control in Airports?
The aviation industry has been plagued by birds for decades. Today, more than 40 collisions between airplanes and wildlife occur within the United States alone each day. The most common collisions, bird strikes, happen during aircraft take-off or landing when birds are sucked into rotating props or jet engines.
Despite their apparent small size in relation to a massive jet engine, birds are capable of causing significant harm. Birds can be responsible for:
- Destroying an airplane engine
- Disabling the ground steering
- Punching a hole in the airplane wing
- Crumpling the nose cone of an airplane
It’s crucial to remember that when birds collide with jet engines, the birds cannot simply be swallowed and moved on. When these strikes force an aircraft to make an emergency landing, they can be extremely dangerous. Aside from posing a safety risk, aircraft damage can also be highly expensive.
Airport runways aren’t the only areas where birds are causing chaos. Birds nest and roost in the high ceiling rafters of aircraft hangars, leaving their droppings, feathers, and other detritus on the floors and on aircraft that are being serviced with their cowlings open.
Unfortunately, when bird debris gets into sensitive engine assemblies and parts, the outcome could be hazardous and problematic. Members of the maintenance and repair teams also need to be aware of the potential for dangerous slip-and-fall situations caused by bird droppings.
Therefore, birds in aircraft hangars can lead to a variety of problems, such as:
- Unnecessary clean-ups
- Maintenance delays
- Aircraft damage
- Slips and falls
Most Popular Airport Bird Control Methods
Bird control techniques should be implemented as soon as airports are built in order to prevent any potential risks. The optimal strategy for controlling birds at airports depends on a number of factors, such as:
- Types of birds in the area
- The size of the airport
- Available resources
Thankfully, since most contractors already have access to specialized tools and lift equipment, installing bird deterrents during airport construction makes the process simpler and more affordable.
These are the most widely used airport bird control techniques currently in use.
The most efficient and compassionate way to deal with a bird and pigeon problem is to use the OvoControl pigeon control program. It is also effective in airports. Using “birth control” for the birds to stop the constant breeding and repopulation of the flock is the key to solving a persistent pigeon problem.
The airport bird control drone is a more recent invention that is making its way onto airport tarmacs. The drone is a robotic bird of prey that can be controlled remotely, and it resembles a living bird in both appearance and weight. Using a combination of wing and silhouette movement, the drone chases away birds, appealing to their natural predatory instinct.
Over time, the drone bird contributes to the reduction of bird populations, which effectively makes airspace safer. Although it is advantageous to use a robotic bird that doesn’t need food, shelter, or relaxation, actual falconry will be more successful in highlighting the local threat and discouraging birds from the area.
Avian dispersal lasers are able to startle birds through the use of a sharp contrast between the laser beam and surrounding light. Although lasers are a safer option for controlling birds at airports, their effectiveness is restricted in situations where there is less ambient lighting. Additionally, avian dispersal lasers tend to be highly species-specific.
Airports all over the world use trained dogs to track and chase away birds. The birds’ fear keeps them from resting, feeding, and building nests in the area. This airport bird control technique is only effective when the dogs are on the job. Once the threat is removed, the birds will return.
Dogs scare birds away in all directions, which increases the risk of bird strikes on the runway if they are not managed properly. This is another concern with using dogs to control birds at airports.
Using radar equipment to monitor flock movement and density, operations can forecast bird behavior. When the radar picks up bird activity, the only things to do are either change the way planes fly or send wildlife experts to remove the birds.
While changing flight times can reduce bird strikes, this isn’t always an option for major airports around the world.
Birds are disturbed by the loud noises produced by air cannons, which makes them take flight because they perceive a threat. Although these airport bird control techniques can be successful, birds may eventually grow accustomed to the noises and cease to be affected.
The splay widths of airport bird spikes range from one to ten inches, and their purpose is to deter birds from approaching runway signs, radar equipment, and aircraft hangars. Although spikes can help stop birds from perching in these areas of the airport, they will definitely find other places to rest whenever they can.
A physical barrier is created by mesh netting to keep birds from landing or building nests. Birds can be kept safe from semi-enclosed spaces such as aircraft carriers and overhangs by using bird netting. For obvious reasons, netting is not a panacea when it comes to airport bird control techniques, despite its occasional effectiveness.
Learn more about how the FAA researches and manages wildlife on or near airports.
“It looks better sitting in your office than it does at the airport,” John Weller, a wildlife biologist with the FAA said.
As the FAAs wildlife strike database shows, plenty of animal species are attracted to the open fields and other features of the airport environment. Even alligators have been known to cause trouble on Florida runways. But the biggest threat is birds flying into the paths of airplanes, the most famous incident being the Miracle on the Hudson.
Bird effigies. Turkey vultures are large and like to soar, characteristics that make them a threat to aircraft. But they dont like the sight (or smell) of their deceased friends. If you hang up a real dead vulture or one that has been stuffed, every vulture will vacate the tower or wherever youre trying to remove them from, Weller said, noting a 2009 federal study of the practice. A National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine guidebook on addressing wildlife at general aviation airports noted that bird effigies frighten gulls and ravens, too.
Distress calls. Because not all birds have distress calls, broadcasting distress calls to entice birds to the source and away from aircraft traffic is not always successful. The season has an impact on their efficacy as well, Anderson stated. You always have to have it integrated with something else. According to Weller, “the sounds could upset or prove annoying to nearby people who hear them more than the birds,” but Dulles International Airport has successfully used distress calls.
FAQ
How do airports scare away birds?
Why do birds not fly near airports?
What is the bird repellent system at the airport?