Factors That Attract Birds Within the Area of the International Airport

Travaux du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle «Grigore Antipa» Vol. 59 (2) pp. 235–240 DOI: 10.1515/travmu-2016-0026 Research paper Factors That Attract Birds within the Area of the International Airport Craiova, Romania, and Certain Control Measures Mirela Sabina RIDICHE1, *, Tudor Ciprian Radu PĂTRUȚOIU2, Angela PETRESCU3 1Museum of Oltenia Craiova – Natural Sciences Department, 8 Popa Șapcă Str., 200422 Craiova, Romania. 2S.C. Explo 06 S.R.L., Craiova, Romania. 3“Grigore Antipa” National Museum of Natural History, Şos. Kiseleff no. 1, 011341 Bucharest, Romania. *corresponding author: e-mail: [email protected] Received: July 27, 2016; Accepted: December 13, 2016; Available online: December 20, 2016; Printed: December 30, 2016 Abstract. The present study renders the results of the observations made in the biotopes located within the perimeter of International Airport Craiova and its close proximity (0–3 km), during all the seasons between 2013 and 2014. During the research, we recorded a total of 58 species of birds, many of them showing a high degree of adaptability to the environmental conditions marked by an increased anthropogenic impact. Large-sized species that fly highly and the species characterized by a gregarious behaviour, represent a real threat to aircraft safety. The temporary or longer presence of birds in the area of the airport is due to the optimum living conditions generated by a series of natural and anthropogenic factors. Besides the enumeration and presentation of the way these factors act, we developed a series of measures that can reduce or counteract the area attractiveness to birds by eliminating or restricting to a minimum the trophic resources and opportunities for rest. Key words: attractive factors, birds, control measures, airport, Craiova. INTRODUCTION The International Airport Craiova (I. A. C.) is located in Oltenia Plain (South Romania), on the left bank of the Jiu River, at an altitude of 191 m a.s.l. and 7 km from the centre of Craiova city (http://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craiova#cite). The north- eastern and eastern parts of the area, adjacent to I. A. C., are a part of the Teslui Basin, while the western and south-western parts belong to the Jiu Basin. Located at a distance of less than 3–5 km, the most important wetlands are insignificant as surface and have temporary (ponds, streams, wetlands and / or areas liable to flood) or permanent character, such as Gherceşti Pond / Valley, which springs near the Aircraft Factory (located in the western part of I. A. C). The main biotopes / habitats present in the studied area (I. A. C. and its surrounding area on a distance of 3 km) are: 1. Grasslands and agro / farmland – covered either by herbaceous vegetation with bushes of Rosa canina, Prunus spinosa, etc. or crops; 2. Wooded surfaces with trees and shrubs / bushes, more abundant in the western and southwestern neighbourhood of the airport runway and within the leisure area known as the “Doctor’s Inn” located 2–3 km west of the airport; 3. Wetlands (pools, flooded meadows, swampy terrains, fens, canals, watercourses: brooks, rivers, floodplains, etc.); 4. Human settlements. Distribution of bird species in the above mentioned biotopes, their relation to the living environment, the systematic, the phenology and the frequency of species, as well as the risk degree birds may represent for air traffic were analyzed by Ridiche & Munteanu (2015) and Ridiche (in press). 236 Mirela Sabina RIDICHE, Tudor Ciprian Radu PĂTRUȚOIU, Angela PETRESCU The analysis of the air traffic risks triggered by birds is a research theme approached by numerous experts from different countries (Thorpe, 1990; Mackinnon, 1998; Knauer et al., 2000); thus, our modest contribution meant to identify new solutions for preventing accidents in the area of I. A. C. is quite opportune taking into account the intensification of air traffic in Craiova. MATERIAL AND METHODS The present study renders the results of the observations made within the biotopes from the perimeter and close proximity of I. A. C. (0–3 km) concerning all the ecological aspects in the period 2013–2014. As field research materials, we used binoculars (Zeiss Jena 10×50 and Bushnell 12×40), bird guide (Bruun et al., 1999) and a photo camera (Sony 15×). The working method consisted in direct observation from fixed points or in motion on predetermined routes, covered by foot. During our investigations, we noted all the bird species observed and / or signalled acoustically, as well as the biotic (natural and artificial) factors that contributed directly or indirectly to the presence of bird species in the studied ecosystems. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS During our research, we identified 58 species of birds that frequently visit the airport (mainly the grassland adjacent to the track), live in the biotopes from its close proximity – 3 km or are just in transit. The most frequented places are rendered in figure 1. Many of the reported species revealed a high degree of adaptability to the environmental conditions characterized by an increased anthropogenic impact (phonic pollution, activity of people and vehicles, etc.), but the real threat to the safety of airplanes is represented by the large species that fly at substantial height and the birds Fig. 1 – The places most frequented by birds within I. A. C. (adapted from https://www.google.ro/maps). Birds within the Area of the International Airport Craiova 237 with gregarious behaviour. In table 1, we render the species, the place where they were identified and the risk category each species represents. The temporary or longer stationing of the birds within the perimeter of I. A. C. or in its close proximity is due to the biotic factors (high tree vegetation, bushes, crops, meadows, pools) that generate trophic resources and possibilities for rest and Table 1 List of bird species identified in the area of I.A.C. (0-3km) Observations The No. Species Popular name Perimeter Surroundings risk of I. A. C. of I. A. C. (0–3km) category 1 Ardea cinerea Grey Heron □ and ≈ □ and ≈ X 2 Egretta garzetta Little Egret - □ and ≈ X 3 Ciconia ciconia White Stork - □ X 4 Anas platyrhynchos Mallard - □ and ≈ XXX 5 Accipiter nisus Sparrowhawk - □ and ≈ - 6 Buteo buteo Buzzard ≈ □ and ≈ X 7 Falco tinnunculus Kestrel □ and ≈ □ and ≈ X 8 Perdix perdix Partridge - □ and ≈ XX 9 Coturnix coturnix Quail - □ and ≈ - 10 Phasianus colchicus Pheasant □ and ≈ □ and ≈ X 11 Fulica atra Coot - □ and ≈ - 12 Vanellus vanellus Lapwing - □ and ≈ XX 13 Chlidonias hybrida Whiskered Tern - □ - 14 Chroicocephalus ridibundus Black-headed Gull - □ and ≈ XX 15 Larus cachinnans Caspian Gull - □ and ≈ XXX 16 Columba livia domestica Rock Dove □ and ≈ □ and ≈ XX 17 Columba palumbus Woodpigeon - □ and ≈ XX 18 Streptopelia decaocto Collared Dove □ and ≈ □ and ≈ XX 19 Cuculus canorus Cuckoo - □ and ≈ - 20 Athene noctua Little Owl - □ and ≈ - 21 Coracias garrulus Roller - □ and ≈ - 22 Upupa epops Hoopoe ≈ □ and ≈ - 23 Dendrocopos major Great Spotted Woodpecker - □ and ≈ - 24 Dendrocopos syriacus Syrian Woodpecker - □ and ≈ - 25 Galerida cristata Crested Lark - □ and ≈ - 26 Alauda arvensis Skylark - □ and ≈ - 27 Hirundo rustica Swallow □ and ≈ □ and ≈ XX 28 Delichon urbicum House Martin □ and ≈ □ and ≈ XX 29 Anthus campestris Tawny Pipit □ and ≈ □ and ≈ - Abbreviations: □ – stationary; ≈ – in transit (in flight); risk for traffic: X – large and/or medium-sized birds flying solitary or in small groups (2 – 5 individuals); XX – small or medium-sized birds flying in flocks (tens/hundreds of individuals); XXX – large or medium-sized birds flying in flocks (tens/hundreds of individuals). 238 Mirela Sabina RIDICHE, Tudor Ciprian Radu PĂTRUȚOIU, Angela PETRESCU Table 1 (continued) Observations The No. Species Popular name Perimeter Surroundings risk of I. A. C. of I. A. C. (0–3km) category 30 Motacilla flava Yellow Wagtail - □ and ≈ - 31 Motacilla alba White Wagtail - □ and ≈ - 32 Troglodytes troglodytes Wren - □ and ≈ - 33 Luscinia luscinia Thrush Nightingale - □ and ≈ - 34 Turdus merula Blackbird - □ and ≈ - 35 Turdus pilaris Fieldfare - □ and ≈ XX 36 Hippolais icterina Icterine Warbler - □ and ≈ - 37 Sylvia communis Whitethroat - □ and ≈ - 38 Phylloscopus collybita Chiffchaff - □ and ≈ - 39 Phylloscopus trochilus Willow Warbler - □ and ≈ - 40 Cyanistes caeruleus Blue Tit - □ and ≈ - 41 Parus major Great Tit □ and ≈ □ and ≈ - 42 Oriolus oriolus Golden Oriole - □ and ≈ - 43 Lanius collurio Red-backed Shrike □ and ≈ □ and ≈ - 44 Lanius minor Lesser Grey Shrike □ and ≈ □ and ≈ - 45 Garrulus glandarius Jay - □ and ≈ - 46 Pica pica Magpie □ and ≈ □ and ≈ X 47 Coloeus monedula Jackdaw □ and ≈ □ and ≈ XX 48 Corvus frugilegus Rook □ and ≈ □ and ≈ XXX 49 Corvus cornix Hooded Crow - □ and ≈ X 50 Sturnus vulgaris Starling □ and ≈ □ and ≈ XX 51 Passer domesticus House Sparrow □ and ≈ □ and ≈ XX 52 Passer montanus Tree Sparrow □ and ≈ □ and ≈ XX 54 Fringilla montifringilla Brambling - □ and ≈ XX 55 Fringilla coelebs Chaffinch - □ and ≈ XX 56 Chloris chloris Greenfinch ≈ □ and ≈ XX 57 Carduelis carduelis Goldfinch ≈ □ and ≈ XX 58 Emberiza calandra Corn Bunting □ and ≈ □ and ≈ XX Abbreviations: □ – stationary; ≈ – in transit (in flight); risk for traffic: X – large and/or medium-sized birds flying solitary or in small groups (2 – 5 individuals); XX – small or medium-sized birds flying in flocks (tens/hundreds of individuals); XXX – large or medium-sized birds flying in flocks (tens/hundreds of individuals). nesting for a great number of bird species. As many of the identified bird species

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