Collisions Between Eagles and Aircraft: an Increasing Problem in the Airport Environment
Most known fatalities for both Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) are associated with humans (e.g., collisions with vehicles and artificial structures). Notably, the risk of collisions between eagles and aircraft is an increasing problem at civil airports and military airfields. Of the 234 eagle collisions with civil and military aircraft reported to the Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Navy during 1990–2013, 52% caused damage to the aircraft. During this 23-yr time period, Bald Eagle–aircraft collisions increased by 2200% and Golden Eagle–aircraft collisions increased by 400%. Eagle–aircraft collisions occur primarily during daylight hours (88%) and typically within the vicinity of the airfield itself; 82.6% of the Bald Eagle–aircraft collisions and 81.0% of Golden Eagle strikes occurred when the aircraft was at or below 305 m aboveground level. Although collision with aircraft is a very minor source of mortality for Golden Eagles, increasing and expanding Bald Eagle populations will likely result in more eagle–aircraft collisions. Currently, there are few mitigation tools and techniques available to reduce eagle–aircraft collisions. Development and evaluation of effective, publically acceptable methods of reducing eagle–human conflicts represent important areas for future research. La mayoría de las muertes conocidas de Haliaeetus leucocephalus y Aquila chrysaetos están asociadas a causas antropogénicas (e.g., colisiones con vehículos y estructuras artificiales). Sorprendentemente, el riesgo de colisiones entre águilas y aeronaves es un problema creciente en aeropuertos civiles y bases militares. De las 234 colisiones de águilas con aeronaves civiles y militares declaradas a la Administración Federal de Aviación, la Fuerza Aérea de los Estados Unidos y la Armada de los Estados Unidos durante el periodo 1990–2013, el 52% causó daños a la aeronave. Durante este periodo de 23 años, las colisiones con individuos de H. leucocephalus aumentaron en un 2200% y las colisiones con individuos de A. chrysaetos aumentaron en un 400%. Las colisiones entre águilas y aeronaves ocurren principalmente durante las horas de luz (88%) y típicamente en las inmediaciones de la misma base militar; 82.6% de las colisiones de H. leucocephalus con aeronaves y el 81% de los golpes de A. chrysaetos tuvieron lugar cuando la aeronave en cuestión se encontraba a una altura sobre el suelo igual o menor a 305 m. Aunque las colisiones con aeronaves son una fuente menor de mortalidad para A. chrysaetos, el crecimiento y la expansión de las poblaciones de esta especie probablemente tenga como consecuencia una mayor frecuencia de colisión de águilas con aeronaves. Actualmente existen pocas herramientas de mitigación y técnicas disponibles para reducir las colisiones entre águilas y aeronaves. Deben llevarse a cabo investigaciones sobre el desarrollo y la evaluación de métodos efectivos y aceptados públicamente con objeto de reducir los conflictos entre humanos y águilas en el futuro.Abstract
Resumen
Distribution of the time of day for eagle–aircraft collisions (n = 194) with U.S. civilian or military (U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Marine Corps) aircraft within the U.S.A. during 1990–2013.
Number of Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle strikes (annually) with U.S. civilian or military (U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Marine Corps) aircraft within the U.S.A. from 1990 to 2013.
Monthly total number of Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle strikes with U.S. civilian or military (U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Marine Corps) aircraft within the U.S.A. during 1990–2013.
Contributor Notes
Associate Editor: Karen Steenhof