Avian Migration Radar Detectors Have Many Uses
Wind Farm Planning & Lower Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard Applications
May 14, 2009
Airplane bird strike incidences are increasing. And wind farm developers are being pushed to ensure that their turbines are not placed where they will be a hazard to birds. But there are other important uses of bird radar detectors including increasing knowledge of avian migratory patterns and migration stopover site usage.
Bird Migration and Habitat Use Studies
Tracking birds on migration is an important part of determining critical habitat to be preserved along the migratory route. Avian radar detectors, one of many wildlife tracking devices available today, allow researchers to determine where various species of bird stopover on the migration. By ensuring there are uncontaminated food and water sources in those areas, losses during the migration can be decreased.
Migrating songbirds tend to travel at night to avoid predators. For these bird species, disorientation from light pollution results in significant losses as bird collide with tall buildings or travel in the wrong direction wasting valuable energy. Using the information gained from tracking birds by radar it is possible to concentrate on controlling light pollution along migratory paths and immediately reduce death rates for those avian travelers.
Protecting Birds From Wind Farm Turbines
As interest in wind energy increases, the need for more wind farms also rises. But some early wind farms were positioned along important avian flight paths and birds died after colliding with the turbines.
Alteration in turbine design has helped mitigate the problem and the use of avian radar detection systems has allowed wind farm designers to determine where best to place the turbines to avoid the areas most commonly used by birds.
Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard on the Rise
The dramatic airbus ditching in New York in January 2009 brought the issue of bird aircraft strike hazard into the public eye. But the issue has been a focus of the airline industry for some time, as bird aircraft strikes are costly. Aviation Week reports that bird airplane strike damage has resulted in losses of more than 625 million USD each year and aircraft downtime of more than 550,000 hours.
The Federal Aviation Administration is testing the use of avian radar detectors at several airports as part of their efforts to reduce bird aircraft strike hazard levels. NASA uses avian radar detection equipment to prevent bird strike hazards during shuttle launches.
And the International Bird Strike Committee works to share the latest in avian radar detection information worldwide. As one of many wildlife tracking options, avian radar detection systems are proving their value beyond bird research and conservation.
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