BIRDS AND AIRPORT AGRICULTURE IN THE CONTERMINOUS UNITED STATES: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE

This report is a review and analysis of literature pertinent to the use of airport lands for agriculture in the conterminous United States (U.S). The paper is based on articles that (1) either document bird utilization of 85 crops or rate the appropriateness of 15 farming activities for airports and (2) identify the North American bird species that utilize these crops and activities. Our review show that 57 crops were documented as utilized by at least one species; no reports of bird use were found for 28 crops. According to three bird-aviation authorities, only one farming activity (i.e., non-pasture stock farming) is suitable for practice within two miles of the airport center. Altogether, 69 species of birds are reported to damage or utilize agriculture in the U.S. Although numerous reports have designated gulls as the most hazardous species to air traffic, this review indicates that certain species of blackbirds, waterfowl, and gallinaceous birds pose greater hazards-at least on conjunction with airport agriculture.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Paper from the Proceeding of the Conference and Training Workshop, on Wildlife Hazards to Aircrtaft, Held at Charleston, South Carolina on 22-25 May 1984, pp 319-329.
• 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:
  • Sterner, R T
  • Elias, D J
  • Garrison, M V
  • Johns, B E
  • Kilburn, S R
• Publication Date: 1984-5

Media Info

• Pagination: 11 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Agriculture; Aircraft; Airports; Birds; Crashes; Hazards; Reviews
• Uncontrolled Terms: Restrictions
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Design; Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Terminals and Facilities; Vehicles and Equipment; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00394876
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT-FAA-AAS-84-1, AD-A14 330
• Contract Numbers: DTF01-83-R-11287
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 31 1985 12:00AM