Wildlife strikes pose a significant threat to aviation safety, costing millions in damage and endangering human lives each year. To effectively mitigate these collisions, it is essential to comprehend the intricate relationships within ecosystems in and around an airport, particularly food webs. Understanding food webs can provide valuable insights into the behaviours, diets, and movements of wildlife species, enabling aviation authorities and airports to implement proactive measures that reduce the risk of wildlife strikes.
What Is a Food Web?
A food web represents the complex networks of interactions among various species within an ecosystem. They illustrate the relationships between producers (e.g. plants) and consumers (e.g. animals, humans). Producers make their own organic molecules, while consumers get organic molecules by eating other organisms. Food webs consist of many different food chains, Food webs are the most accurate reflection of the intricate and interconnected nature of ecosystems, showing the multiple ways organisms interact in the natural world. In the context of bird strikes, understanding the structure and dynamics of these food webs is crucial.
Predator vs. Prey
Understanding the food web inside an airport means understanding the insights into predator-prey relationships between species. Knowing which species are natural predators of prey species can guide the development of wildlife management strategies at airports. For example, falcons and other raptors may feed on smaller birds like pigeons or shorebirds. Some airports use trained falcons to deter these small birds from the vicinity of runways; therefore, preventing both the small birds and their predators from habituating the airport.
Another common predator-prey relationship that can be seen across the globe is rodents (e.g. rats) and raptors (e.g. eagles). In an airport, by controlling populations of rodents that serve as prey for raptors, airports can reduce the attractiveness of their environments to potential strikes of large raptors. This may mean using sustainable rodenticides, covering rodent burrows, or switching to less attractive vegetation to rodents.
Wildlife Diets and Prey Availability
One of the primary ways understanding food webs helps mitigate wildlife strikes is by understanding each species and their dietary preferences. Different wildlife species will eat different types of food. When deciphering how to classify the diet of a specific species, first figure out if the species is herbivores (eats plants), carnivores (eats other animals), or omnivores (eats both). Many species have diets that can be broken down to be even more specific.
Examples of Herbivores Diets:
Frugivores (fruits)
Nectarivores (nectar)
Granivores (seeds)
Examples of Carnivores Diets:
Piscivores (fish)
Insectivores (insects)
Scavengers (carrion)
By analyzing food webs, airports can identify primary food sources of certain species in specific regions. This information is valuable for airports because it helps predict which species are likely to be present based on the attractiveness of an airport's environment to that particular species. Granivores birds are seed eating birds that are attracted to airports due to their abundance of grass seeds. Maintaining grass at a specific, controlled length helps prevent the grasses from seeding. This not only mitigates the presence of granivorous birds but also reduces the attraction of larger predator birds that prey on these granivorous birds.
Seasonal Movements and Migration Patterns
Wildlife, particularly birds, migrate seasonally. Their movements are influenced by food availability, weather conditions, and breeding habits. Food web analysis can shed light on when and where certain bird species are likely to be present. This information can help airports anticipate periods of increased bird activity and adjust their strategies accordingly. If your airport is located in a tropical area, this may mean more birds are present during the rainy season. During this time, airports can implement enhanced monitoring and control measures. By understanding the timing and routes of bird migrations, they can deploy deterrence methods at the right times and in the most effective locations. In Singapore, our migratory season spans from mid-August to April. Throughout this period, airport personnel employ various dispersal methods, one of which being pyrotechnics, at more frequent intervals. Additionally, during the migratory season, humane bird repellent sprays will be used. It's crucial that these bird repellent sprays are used only during high bird volume periods, such as the migratory season, to ensure both sustainability and effectiveness.
By understanding food webs and their role to mitigate wildlife strikes The mitigation of wildlife strikes is a crucial concern for aviation safety. Understanding and identifying the food webs in an airport ecosystem can play a vital role in achieving this goal. By analyzing the intricate relationships within ecosystems, aviation authorities and airport operators can develop more informed and targeted strategies to reduce the risk of bird strikes. These strategies may include adjusting bird deterrence methods, managing habitats, and enhancing monitoring efforts during peak bird activity periods. Ultimately, a comprehensive understanding of food webs can help create safer skies for both aviation and the diverse bird species that share our environment.
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