A must read book for wildlife professionals and airport managers

Wildlife in Airport Environments

Preventing Animal–Aircraft Collisions through Science-Based Management

Edited by Travis L. DeVault, Bradley F. Blackwell, and Jerrold L. Belant

Hardback, 200 pages, 53 b&w illus.

Published by Johns Hopkins University Press

ISBN: 9781421410821

October 2013, $75.00

As a past aviator, I am very conscious about the danger posed to aircrafts by birds and other wildlife in the vicinity of airports. I have fascination for flying along with my deep rooted interest in wildlife as a wildlife professional. One of my friends had the windshield of his small aircraft damaged by bird during the course of his first solo flight. He got the fright of his life. Luckily he got back safely.

The other day I finished reading this wonderful book on Wildlife in Airport Environments, borrowed from my pilot friend Jacob. I found the book very fascinating and feel that it should be read by all pilots, airport managers and wildlife professionals. The book is written with inputs from USA, but it has relevance worldwide.

I am reproducing below the blurb

The pilot watches the instrument panel and prepares for touchdown—a routine landing until a burst of birds, a coyote, or a herd of deer crosses the runway! Every year, pilots experience this tension and many aircraft come into direct contact with birds and other wildlife, resulting in more than one billion dollars in damage annually. The United States Federal Aviation Administration has recorded a rise in these incidents over the past decade due to the combined effects of more reporting, rebounding wildlife populations, and an increased number of flights. Wildlife in Airport Environments tackles the issue of what to do about encounters with wildlife in and around airports—from rural, small-craft airparks to major international hubs.

Whether the problem is birds or bats in the flight path or a moose on the runway, the authors provide a thorough overview of the science behind wildlife management at airports.

 This well-written, carefully documented volume presents a clear synthesis for researchers, wildlife managers, and airport professionals. The book belongs in the hands of all those charged with minimizing the risks that wildlife pose to air travel.