REDUCING GULL USE OF SOME ATTRACTIONS NEAR AIRPORTS

Gulls may visit airports to utilize the open space for loafing or other activities. They are more likely to do so if there are attractive feeding areas nearby. One of the more important food attractions, particularly for ring-billed gulls, is that provided by areas in which large volumes of edible refuse (domestic or industrial) are exposed. If gulls can be prevented from feeding in such areas they are much less likely to loaf on neighbouring areas, including airports. Recent work has demonstrated the efficiency of widely space suspended, very fine wires and fine nylon monofilaments in discouraging gull feeding in areas over which the wires (lines) are stretched. The technique does not impose an easily visible physical barrier such as traditionally used at fish hatcheries. The few birds that penetrate under the fine wires (lines), when disturbed, appear to have no difficulty flying up and out through the wires. That is in contrast to more than 80 percent of birds that will not penetrate the wired area from above to get at the food.

  • Supplemental Notes:
    • Paper from the Proceeding of the Conference and Training Workshop on Wildlife Hazards To Aircraft, Held at Charleston, South Carolina on 22-25 May 1984, pp 209-212.
  • Corporate Authors:

    Peer Consultants

    1160 Rockville Pike
    Rockville, MD  United States  20852

    Federal Aviation Administration

    800 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, DC  United States  20591
  • Authors:
    • SOLMAN, VEF
  • Publication Date: 1984-5

Media Info

  • Pagination: 4 p.

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00394860
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: DOT-FAA-AAS-84-1, AD-A148 330
  • Contract Numbers: DTFA01-83-R-11287
  • Files: TRIS, USDOT
  • Created Date: Oct 31 1985 12:00AM