Research
A Review of Bird Control Methods at Airports
Birds are a serious problem at airports threat to aviation safety. Since the early days of aviation, collisions of aircraft and birds have taken place, sometimes with fatal consequences. Generally, the damage due to their size of the bird species involved, hunting behavior, and hovering/soaring habits. The combination of abundant food sources, open space, and availability of perching structures on airport grounds and near runway/taxiway areas provides ideal hunting opportunities for many raptors. Also, the behavior of bird species influences the risks, for instance flocking or certain migration patterns and flying altitudes. Development of larger, faster and quieter aircraft, jet engines and intensification of air traffic caused an increase in the number of incidents. Military exercises involve flying at high speed an low altitude, and are exposed to a more serious risk.
Strategies of Rodent Control Methods at Airports
Rodent populations at airports can cause human safety issues by attracting raptors ... be, expended to reduce of rodent populations at an airport may decrease birds population in the area and therefore, reduce the risk that raptors pose to aircraft. Rodent populations can be reduced by population management (i.e., use of rodenticides) or by habitat management (i.e., vegetation management, barriers, and land uses) that reduces the area’s carrying capacity for rodents. We discuss potential approaches to reduce rodent populations at airports within the context of an integrated pest management strategy.
