Wildlife strike risk assessment in several Italian airports: lessons from BRI and a new methodology implementation

The presence of wildlife in airport areas poses substantial hazards to aviation. Wildlife aircraft collisions (hereafter wildlife strikes) cause losses in terms of human lives and direct monetary losses for the aviation industry. In recent years, wildlife strikes have increased in parallel with air traffic increase and species habituation to anthropic areas. In this paper, we used an ecological approach to wildlife strike risk assessment to eight Italian international airports. The main achievement is a site-specific analysis that avoids flattening wildlife strike events on a large scale while maintaining comparable airport risk assessments. This second version of the Birdstrike Risk Index (BRI2) is a sensitive tool that provides different time scale results allowing appropriate management planning. The methodology applied has been developed in accordance with the Italian Civil Aviation Authority, which recognizes it as a national standard implemented in the advisory circular ENAC APT-01B

Are burrow nesting seabird chicks affected by human disturbance?

Many studies on the effects of human disturbance on birds have focused on adults and report mainly negative effects. Few focus oil effects oil chicks. Here, an experimental approach was used to determine effects of human disturbance oil chick growth. Cassin's Anklet chicks were assigned to one of three groups (control, low and high disturbance). In experimental groups, a person walked close to the burrow entrance four times or eight times a day, according to the disturbance level assigned. Growth (mass increment and wing length increase) was measured and compared between the tin cc groups. Since adults are absent from the nest during the day, chicks, but riot their parents, experienced the disturbance regime. Body condition and experience (age) of the parents did not influence peak or fledging mass of chicks subject to disturbance. Chicks were not affected by disturbance ill the early stages of growth, while chicks in the experimental groups stopped gaining weight sooner than controls and fledged at lower weights (6 to 9% less) compared to chicks in the control group. Chicks in the high disturbance group had a lower peak (F-2,F-68 = 7.53, P<0.001) and fledging mass, (F-2.68= 17.274, P<0.001) compared to chicks in the control group, while chicks in the low disturbance group had a lower fledging mass (F-2,F-68 = 17.274, P<0.001) but similar peak mass. As subesequent survival of chicks is likely to be affected by their mass at fledging, the results show that it is necessary to consider the chick growth stage when making management plans for areas with burrow-nesting seabirds

An ecological approach to birdstrike risk analysis

International audienceAirports are peculiar developed habitats that, besides being extremely noisy and unappealing to some bird species, are highly attractive to others. Bird–aircraft collisions, or birdstrikes, cause losses in terms of human lives, direct monetary losses and associated costs for the civil aviation industry. In recent years, birdstrike risk assessment studies have focused on the economical aspects of the damage caused by wild animals and the hazards of wildlife–aircraft collisions, while an ecological approach, taking into account animal behaviour for the analysis of such events, has seldom been adopted. We conducted a risk analysis for birdstrikes at the Venice Marco Polo International Airport (VCE), Italy. We defined the key variables involved in these events and summarised their interactions in a single metric risk index we called the “Birdstrike Risk Index” (BRI). Our aim was to provide a tool for birdstrike risk analysis that described the risk on the basis of the actual presence of birds at airports. The application of the BRI at VCE allows relative risks across species to be defined, providing information for prioritising management actions. Furthermore, due to the seasonality of bird species presences, the application of the BRI to a long-term data series should give clues of birdstrike risk in future scenarios. This new ecological approach that we applied to a particular airport could easily be adapted for use at other airports worldwide and integrated into risk assessment procedures. The study results and the BRI tool are addressed to scientific consultants of airport safety managers

Sexual Dichromatism In Mediterranean Storm Petrels Hydrobates Pelagicus Melitensis

Sexual dichromatism in mediterranean storm petrels Hydrobates pelagicus melitensis. We propose the use of a non-invasive technique for sexing the Mediterranean subspecies of the European storm petrel Hydrobates pelagicus melitensis. We found that this subspecies shows sexual dimorphism in rump band length and wing length. We found that storm petrels can be sexed using discriminant analysis and/or the product of wing length * rump band length. Fast and cheap sex identification methods can improve conservation programs and population studies of this species

Roof top nesting by gulls for better or worse?

Newspaper published in Holland, Michigan, from 1872-1977, to serve the English-speaking people in Holland, Michigan. Purchased by local Dutch language newspaper, De Grondwet, owner in 1888.https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/hcn_1923/1024/thumbnail.jp