Aircraft collisions with birds, also commonly referred to as bird strikes, annually cost the commercial aviation industry in Brazil at least $6 million in direct damage and associated costs and hundreds of hours of aircraft down time. Although the economic costs of wildlife strikes are extreme, the cost in human lives lost when aircraft accidents occur as a result of strikes best illustrates the need for management of the wildlife strike problem. Bird strikes have been an increasing problem for the aviation industry. Air travel has become widespread all over the world. The aircraft has played an important role not only for passengers and freight but also in tactical and logistical military operations. Therefore, collisions between aircraft and birds are of big concern. More than ninety percent of bird strikes with known locations occur on or in the vicinity of airports. Birds are attracted to airports for a variety of reasons, all of them directly tied to the bird’s survival. Many species have adapted to urban environments and find that airports, which usually offer huge areas of grass and pavement, are attractive habitats for feeding, breeding, and resting. Their basic needs increase the risks of bird hazard at airports unless an effective wildlife hazard management program be effectively implemented. More than just an inconvenience, bird hazard at airports is a real danger to air travelers and are costly to all concerned. The purpose of this paper is to provide scientific and technical information to assist airport personnel in developing and conducting a wildlife hazard management program to reduce the risk of bird strikes on and near the airport
