A History of Wildlife Strikes and Bird Strike Committee-USA

Richard A. Dolbeer Past Chair, BSC-USA (1997-2008) & Science Advisor, USDA Washington, DC 17 February 2011 1903: The first powered flight 1905: The first reported bird strike

Date: 7 Sept 1905 Aircraft: Wright Flyer Location: Dayton, OH Phase of flight: Cruise over cornfield Damage: None Wildlife Species: Red-winged blackbird? The first reported terrestrial wildlife strike 25 July 1909 Louis Bleriot's historic first flight across the English Channel from Les Baraques, France During engine warm-up, a farm dog ran into the propeller of the Bleriot XI aircraft and was “chopped to a pulp”.

Landing at Dover, England Louis Bleriot 1912: The First Bird Strike Fatality

Date: 3 April 1912 Aircraft: Wright Pusher Location: Long Beach, CA Phase of flight: Cruise over water Damage: Aircraft Destroyed Wildlife Species: Gull Civil Aircraft Destroyed Woldwide by Decade

60 50 40 30 20 10 0 1901 1911 1921 1931 1941 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 Decade 1939: The First Bird Strike to a Jet- powered Aircraft

Date: 27 August 1939 Aircraft: Heinkel He 178 (V1) Location: Germany Comment: The first test flight of a jet- Phase of flight: Unknown powered aircraft was on 24 August 1939. Three days later, during the Damage: Loss of thrust second flight, a loss of thrust was Wildlife Species: Bird experienced after a bird strike. Wildlife Strike Timeline

 1905-First reported bird strike  1909-First reported terrestrial mammal strike  1912-First plane crash & first loss of human life  1913-1959 (47 years)-Only 3 civil aircraft destroyed  1960-Lockheed Electra crash in Boston Harbor (62 deaths)  1960s-First attempts to collect bird strike data by FAA  1960s-Bird Strike Committee-Canada & BSCE begin  1960s-USFWS-ADC does small amount of airport work  1970s-2010 (the rest of the story) (1960-2010 [51 years]-160 civil aircraft destroyed) 1960: The First Commercial Disaster at Airport

DC-9 with flock of starlings, 1995

Date: 3 October 1960 Aircraft: Lockheed Electra Location: Boston Logan Airport (MA) Phase of flight: Climb Effect on flight: Engine shutdown, crash Damage: Engines, aircraft destroyed, 62 fatalities, 9 injuries Wildlife species: European starlings 1962: The First Commercial Disaster En route

Date: 23 November 1962 Aircraft: Vickers Viscount Location: Ellicot City, Maryland Phase of flight: En Route (6,000’ AGL) Effect on flight: Crashed Damage: tail section, aircraft destroyed, 17 fatalities Wildlife species: Tundra swan 25 June 1969, Cleveland, Ohio Bald Eagle Nests in Contiguous USA (1963-2009)

14000

12000

10000

8000

6000

4000 DDT 2000 Banned

0

1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 Canada Goose population in North America, 1970-2010 (resident and migratory)

4

Resident Geese Migrant geese 3

2

1

No. of Geese (x 1 million) (Graph by R. A. Dolbeer with data from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

0

1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 Breeding Population of Ospreys has increased over 12-fold in USA, 1966-2007

0.6

0.5 Over 5,500 strikes were reported between raptors 0.4 and civil aircraft, USA, 0.3 1990-2009

0.2

BBS Population Index 0.1

0.0 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 Greater & Mid-continent Snow Goose Populations (1970-2010) (Winters: Texas-N. Carolina) 4500

4000

3500 Body mass = 7.6 lbs

3000

2500

2000

x 1,000 1500

1000

500 Mean annual increase = 3.4%

0 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 Pacific White-fronted Goose Population (1979-2010) (Winters: Alaska to California) 700

600 Body mass = 6 lbs

500

400

300 x 1,000 200

100 Mean annual increase = 7% 0 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 Turkey vulture population increase in N. America, 1980-2007 Mean annual increase =2.2% 4.2

3.8

3.4

3.0

BBS Population Index 2.6

2.2 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 Breeding Population of Sandhill Cranes has increased 8 fold in North America, 1966-2007

4.0 North American Population = >650,000

3.0

2.0

1.0 BBS Population Index

0.0

1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 Breeding Population of Great Egrets has doubled in North America, 1966-2007

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5 BBS Population Index

1.0 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 Wild turkey population in USA (1959-2010) 8 Penetration of wild turkey into cockpit 7 of Canadair RJ 200 at IAD, March 2002 6

5

4

3 (x 1 Million) 1 (x 2

1

0

1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 Breeding population of Red-tailed hawks increased 14 fold in Illinois, 1966-2006, to over 40,000 birds.

5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

BBS Population BBS Index 1.0

0.0

1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 Breeding population of white pelicans has increased at a mean annual rate of 4.3% in North America, 1966-2007

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0 BBS Population BBS Index 0.5 Data from North American Breeding Bird Survey http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/bbs.html

0.0

1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 California Condor Population, 1987-2010

200

Body mass = 22 lbs 150

100

Captive Wild 50

0 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 White-tailed deer population in USA increased from

25 0.3 million to ~ 25 million, 1900-2010

20

15

10 Over 1,000 deer-

Deer (X 1 Million) 1 (X Deer aircraft collisions 5 reported, 1990-2009

0 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 1970s: Emergence of efforts by FAA and others in USA to mitigate wildlife strikes at airports

Environmental initiatives set stage for recovery of bird populations FAA developed some guidance for airports FAA had no staff biologist dedicated to wildlife strike mitigation No airport-related research to mitigate strikes in USA USAF BASH team formed UK had research on grass management at airports Bird Strike Committee Europe met every 2 years (limited USA presence) 1973: Jet crash kills 7, cowbirds from nearby landfill blamed

Date: 26 February 1973 Aircraft: Learjet 24 Location: DeKalb - Peachtree (GA) Phase of flight: Climb Effect on flight: Crash Damage: Engines, aircraft destroyed: 7 fatalities, 1 injury Wildlife species: Brown-headed cowbirds 1975: Largest Commercial Aircraft to be destroyed by birds

Date: 12 November 1975 Aircraft: DC 10 Location: JFK International Airport Phase of flight: Take-off run Effect on flight: Aborted take-off Damage: Engine, landing gear, aircraft destroyed Wildlife species: Herring and great black-backed gulls 1980s: Continued emergence of efforts by FAA and others in mitigating wildlife strikes at airports

 1980-1989: Populations of many large species of birds starting to recover  1980-1981: USAF develops Bird Avoidance Model  1983: FAA hired a staff biologist for first time (Mike Harrison)  1986: Wildlife Services was transferred from Interior to Agriculture  USDA APHIS was supportive of Wildlife Services  Funding improved (especially cooperator funding)  1989: FAA reassigned Harrison and hired Gene LeBoeuf (USDA/WS-LA)  1989: FAA develops MOU with USDA Wildlife Services  1989-1990: WS develops agreements at ORD, JFK & a few other airports 1990s: BSC-USA founded; major efforts initiated to mitigate wildlife strikes at airports

 1990-1999: Populations of many large species of birds show phenomenal growth  1991: USDA WS enters into agreement with PANYNJ for gull control at JFK • 15,000 gulls shot; brings national headlines and attention to problem  1991: BSC-USA is founded (10 people at meeting)  1991: USAF begins funding Smithsonian Feather Lab  1995: FAA hires Ed Cleary (USDA/WS-OH); Gene LeBoeuf to USAF BASH  1995: FAA enters into agreement with USDA/WS to develop bird strike database • FAA & USDA/WS begin publishing an annual strike report (1996)  1999: FAA-USDA publish first manual on mitigating wildlife strikes at civil airports  1999: USDA/WS provides assistance at 363 airports (40 in 1990)  1995-1999: Avian radar being developed for airports; USAF BAM expanded News media coverage of JFK program-1991 BIRD STRIKE COMMITTEE-USA Promoting Education, Professionalism and Technology to Reduce Wildlife Hazards to Aviation

Founded August 1991 WHEN AND WHERE DOES BIRD STRIKE COMMITTEE-USA MEET?  Since 1991, BSC-USA meets annually in association with an airport.  Since 1999, annual meetings have been held jointly with Bird Strike Committee Canada.

Bird Strike Committee-USA Meeting Attendance

500

SFB

BWI

450 STL

MSP SMF

400

350 SLC BKL

300 BOS

250 PHX

Attendees 200

150

DFW

ORD

100 SEA

JFK

50 ACY

0

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Field demonstrations at BSC-USA Meetings

GODZILLA Bird Disperser! MSP

Paint-ball gun to disperse geese, BWI Field demonstrations at Bird Strike Committee USA Meeting at MSP, Aug 2000

HAWK TRAPPING AND RELOCATION

PELLET GUN FOR PIGEON REMOVAL PROPANE CANNON/ HUNTER SILHOUETTE Four of 22 Vendors at BSC-USA Meeting at BWI, 2004 Pyrotechnics Training at Bird Strike Committee USA/Canada Meeting in Sacramento, 2002

Hands-on Field Training

Classroom Lectures Bird Strike Committee USA Meetings Receive Positive News Media Coverage

Baltimore 2004 Minneapolis 2000 1995: Worst U.S. Military Bird Strike

Date: 22 September 1995 Aircraft: E-3 AWACS Location: Elmendorf AFB (AK) Phase of flight: Take-off run Effect on flight: Crashed into forest Damage: Engines, aircraft destroyed: 24 fatalities Wildlife species: Canada geese 1996: Military Bird Strike with Most Fatalities

Date: 15 July 1996 Aircraft: Lockheed C-130 Location: Eindhoven, Netherlands Phase of flight: Approach Effect on flight: Crashed short of runway Damage: Aircraft destroyed: 34 fatalities Wildlife Species: European Starlings 2000-2010: BSC-USA meetings grow; efforts to mitigate strikes at airports start paying off

 2000-2010: Mitigation efforts increase exponentially at Part 139 airports in USA  These efforts show positive results  2000: Feather Lab expands services to civil aviation with funding from FAA (USN 2008)  2005: FAA-USDA publish revised manual on mitigating wildlife strikes  2007: Ed Cleary retires at FAA; John Weller hired 18 months later  2008: BSC-USA/Canada meeting has 450 attendees  Special publication of peer-reviewed papers in Human-Wildlife Conflicts  2008: Mar 4, Cessna Citation crashes after T/O from GA airport in OK  Puts focus on GA airports for first time  2009: FAA database has >100,000 reports (1990-2009); positive trends for Part 139 Airports  2009: Jan 15, Flight 1549 in Hudson River; worldwide coverage of problem  Puts focus on off-airport bird-strike risks USDA Wildlife Services Biologists provided assistance at a record 838 Airports in FY 2010

900 838 airports 800

700

600

500

400

300 Airports Assisted Airports

200 100 40 airports

0

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 Efforts by Bird Strike Committee-USA and others from 1990-2010 to mitigate strikes at Part 139 airports and military airbases are paying off News media coverage of JFK program-1991 The number of aircraft striking Laughing Gulls was dramatically reduced at JFK Airport, NY, 1991-2009 180 160 157 USDA SHOOTING PROGRAM 140

120

100

80 60

No. of Strikes 60

36 37 2.6/yr (-98%) 40 29 22 21 21 18 17 20 13 12 5 7 2 4 4 3 1 3 0

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 1988-90 (Mean) Sep 2003: Fokker 100 suffered uncontained engine failure on take-off at LGA after striking 5 Canada geese

Fuselage penetration Main source of problem was large resident Canada goose population that gathered at Rikers Island near LaGuardia Airport

Rikers Is Mitigation efforts for wildlife strikes has focused on management actions at airports and surrounding habitats, 1990-2010

LGA airport 2004 Number of Canada geese removed from Rikers Island next to LaGuardia Airport, New York City, June 2004-2010

600 518 500

400 N = 1,401

288 300 200 200 166

Geese Geese removed 120 100 77 32 0 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Number of Canada goose strikes at LaGuardia Airport, New York City, July 2002-Dec 2010

4 7 strikes in 1,401 geese removed from Rikers Is; 2 years 4 strikes in 6 1/2 years 3

2 Geese Strikes Geese 1

0

Fall 2002Fall 2003Spr 2003Fall 2004Spr 2004Fall 2005Spr 2005Fall 2006Spr 2006Fall 2007Spr 2007Fall 2008Spr 2008Fall 2009Spr 2009Fall 2010Spr 2010Fall

Win 2003Win 2004Win 2005Win 2006Win 2007Win 2008Win 2009Win 2010Win

Sum2002 Sum2003 Sum2004 Sum2005 Sum2006 Sum2007 Sum2008 Sum2009 Sum2010 15 January 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 Substantial damage bird strike rate (per 1 million aircraft movements) for commercial aircraft in USA, 1990-2009

2.5 <=500 ft >500 ft 2.0

1.5

1.0

Strikes/1 millionStrikes/1 movements 0.5

0.0 1990-1994 1995-1999 2000-2004 2005-2009 Substantial damaging strike rate (Canada Geese) for commercial aircraft in USA, 1990-2009

0.20

<=500 ft >500 ft 0.15

0.10

0.05 Strikes/1 millionStrikes/1 movements

0.00 1990-1994 1995-1999 2000-2004 2005-2009 Reported deer strikes with civil aircraft in USA, 1992-2009

40

Part 139 airports 30

20

Reported Deer Strikes Deer Reported 10

0

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Conclusions 1. Outstanding job of conservation for most flocking bird species over past 40 years. 2. Mitigation efforts at airports in the USA since 1990, and especially since about 2000, have resulted in a reduction of damaging strikes in the airport environment. 3. This reduction in risk has occurred in spite of increasing populations of many hazardous wildlife species. 4. BSC-USA has played a pivotal role in these reductions in damaging strikes at airports since the early 1990s. 5. These successful efforts at airports, which must be sustained, have done little to reduce strikes outside the airport. 6. BSC-USA must continue to develop partnerships & programs to address on- and off-airport strike threats. Our Goal: Safer Skies for all who fly ….

Birds and People!

Thank You!