Wildlife in Airport Environments: Understanding Animal Movements at and near Airports

• Main Authors: Belant, Jerrold L., Washburn, Brian E., DeVault, Travis L.
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 2013
• Subjects: Life Sciences; Canada; Branta canadensis
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/icwdm_usdanwrc/1648; https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/context/icwdm_usdanwrc/article/2658/viewcontent/Wildlife_in_Airport_Environments___Understanding_Animal_Movements_at_and_near_Airports_final.pdf

Understanding movements of hazardous wildlife species at and near airports is critical to formulating effective management strategies for reducing aviation risk. Animal movements vary daily, seasonally, and annually and are based on broad biological and ecological concepts, including foraging, reproduction, habitat characteristics, dispersal, and migration. As an energy conservation strategy, most animals minimize their movements to meet life requisites, which in turn presumably improves fitness. Animal movements in relation to airports can be direct; for example, Canada geese (Branta canadensis) flying onto an airfield because grass height and composition are suitable for loafing sites and as food. Animal movements in and around airports can also be indirect; for example, airports near large rivers may experience increased numbers of birds flying overhead during spring and autumn migrations, as rivers often facilitate bird navigation.