An influx of savanna nightjars has become a potential threat to the nation’s aviation safety, the results of a survey conducted by the Flight Safety Foundation-Taiwan showed.
A bird species found mainly in South Asia, savanna nightjars were once believed to be on the verge of extinction. Before 2000, they were sporadically seen in Pingtung and Hualien Counties.
The foundation’s survey, however, showed that populations of savanna nightjars have experienced unbalanced growth in counties south of Hsinchu and on the east coast in recent years.
Environmental protection bureaus or fire departments in Taichung, Nantou, Yunlin, Changhua, Hualien, Chiayi, Kaohsiung and Pingtung have received many noise complaints related to the birds from residents in the past two years. When mating, the birds’ cries can reach 90 decibels.
The increase of savanna nightjars has threatened the nation’s flight safety, the report said. Between 2008 and last year, seven bird strike incidents were reported at Chiayi Airport, Taipei Songshan Airport and Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.
In the survey, ground crews at the Navy base in Taoyuan and Air Force bases in Taichung and Chiayi were also interviewed.
The interviews showed that starting about two years ago, ground crews would find the bodies of dead savanna nightjars when they removed debris from runways in the mornings.
They suspected the birds had died after being hit by airplanes on takeoff and landing. When they inspected runways at night, they found that nightjars would sometimes flock on the tarmac.
To counter the threat posed by savanna nightjars, the foundation proposed that airport staffs increase night patrols on runways between July and October, when the birds are more likely to appear.
The foundation said patrol vehicles should try to shoo away flocks of nightjars 30 minutes before the landing or departure of aircraft. It also advised them to shoot the birds if the first method does not work.
The foundation also suggested that airport staff learn about the habits of savanna nightjars and establish a bird strike alert system to ensure flight safety. They should inspect deserted buildings around airports regularly in case the birds roost on their roofs, the foundation said.
Bird strikes can cause of aviation accidents. A US Airways airplane crash-landed in the Hudson River last January after striking a a flock of geese upon taking off from La Guardia Airport in New York City. All 150 passengers and crew aboard the flight survived the accident.
The Civil Aeronautics Administration said yesterday in a statement that the number of bird strikes had dropped from 202 in 2002 to 115 in 2008.
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