Effectiveness of Falconry in Reducing Risk of Bird Strikes Under Study at JFK International

Trained falcons have been used in a program at Kennedy International Airport in New York to drive away flocks of gulls, thus reducing the number of bird strikes by airplanes by 66%. The program will be expanded to include other problem birds, and to begin earlier in the spring. The airport is locate...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:ICAO journal 1996-09, Vol.51 (7), p.5-5
Main Author: Garber, Steven D
Format: Magazinearticle
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Trained falcons have been used in a program at Kennedy International Airport in New York to drive away flocks of gulls, thus reducing the number of bird strikes by airplanes by 66%. The program will be expanded to include other problem birds, and to begin earlier in the spring. The airport is located near a wildlife refuge and a national park that are home to 300 species of birds. Bird strikes have caused damage to 13 engines since 1979, resulting in at least one crash. Bird strikes are also addressed through airport vegetation management, insect control, better waste management practices, water retention management, scientific research on bird control methods, and training and management of bird hazard personnel.
ISSN:1014-8876