U.S. Department of Agriculture: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Date of this Version
1-2011
Citation
DOT/FAAlAR-xx/xx Office of Aviation Research Washington, D.C. 20591 (Jan 2011)
Abstract
Deterring birds from water on or near airports is an important part of a bird strike reduction program. Overhead wires of various materials and in a variety of patterns can reduce bird use of specific areas. It has been suggested that widely spaced wires can be as effective as narrowly spaced wires and therefore more economical due to decreased material and initial labor costs. However, when a 50-foot design was placed over waste-water ponds in North Carolina, the total number of waterfowl using the ponds increased when compared to the year prior to placement of the wires. Canada goose numbers declined, whereas mallard, ringnecked duck and ruddy duck numbers increased. It is possible that waterfowl using the wired areas perceived the overhead grids as protection from avian predators. Also, the ponds may have provided refuge from hunting since no hunting was allowed at this location. An integrated bird hazing approach is therefore necessary at these overhead wire locations and we anticipate that hazing would be required at other overhead wire locations as well.