ENERGY, NOT GEESE: Converting airport grasslands to biofuel, solar, or wind production may produce alternative energy while reducing the local abundance of wildlife hazardous to aircraft.PHOTO BY DAVID BERGMAN
Usually they leave no more than blood smears; sometimes, busted engines and pulpy, feathery messes. Bird strikes, which occur when the flight paths of airplanes and avians suddenly intersect, can be costly and dangerous. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, collisions between wildlife and aircraft cause damage costing up to $400 million every year in the U.S. alone and have been responsible for some 200 deaths worldwide since 1988. “Birds are far more of a threat than terrorism is for bringing aircrafts down,” says Nicholas Carter of the World Birdstrike Association.
Because birds and planes share the same airspace, accidents are bound to happen, particularly during takeoff, landing, or low-altitude flight. The severity of a collision depends on several factors, including the size and species ...
