Case Study Finds Hand Held Laser Minimizes Bird Strikes at Chicago Executive Airport

Introduction

Bird strikes are a perennial source of hazard at airports, particularly during periods of migration. Migratory Bird Management’s sister company, Wild Goose Chase (WGC), has been providing bird control services to the Chicago Executive Airport since 1998 as part of a multi-tactic effort to reduce the population of Canada geese and minimize the threat of wildlife strikes against airplanes.

While dogs have been the primary tool used to manage the goose populations, one of WGC’s other key tools for bird control has been the green bird laser.  Lasers are safe, humane and effective on all species of birds with no direct harm to wildlife when used properly.

The Agrilaser Aerolaser is a high-powered handheld model designed with extra safety features specifically for airport use. It has been used at PDX in Portland, Ore. since 2011.

Key findings of this Case Study

• 7 bird species: primarily Canada geese, European starlings, Ring-billed gulls, herring gulls
• 2 seasonal migrations in May and August
• Deterrents used: hand-held Aerolaser and canine harassment
• 16 annual bird strikes in 2019; 17 bird strikes in 2020
• Laser most effective against geese congregating at dusk
• Least effective against gulls, starlings and geese in daylight

The Case Study: Airport Bird Control

Initial Planning

Airports have strict safety regulations. Laser use at Chicago Executive Airport was discussed during a meeting between WGC, airport management, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The discussion covered safety protocols, use, communication, and reporting for a one-year (spring and fall migration) trial use of the Aerolaser.

Spring 2020 Findings

Though the laser is rated for use in daylight conditions, stubborn spring birds like gulls, starlings, and geese were sometimes unaffected in daylight and dogs were used as a backup. The laser was effective in overcast conditions. Heavy use of the laser in May contributed to fewer birds in June.

Fall 2020 Findings

Fall flocking and migration begins for many species in August when starlings and Canada geese became a larger issue. Groups of geese would congregate near dusk and the laser proved to be invaluable for these later service times.

Laser Results: Airport Bird Management

Table 1: Bird Thresholds and Totals

Table 1 shows the target bird species as well as the threshold for number of birds before chasing and the total number of birds chased throughout the service year. The goal of this was to effectively remove as many birds as possible.

Strike Impacts

The following tables show strike data for the year prior to the laser study (2019), and the year of the study (2020).