Just a thought: do any of you use landing lamps whilst low level, or in a high risk zone? Birds will react to a flash of light far quicker than either the noise or sight of an oncoming vehicle: try flashing your headlamps at a bird in the road and see the reaction.
Most dipper pilots would have experienced large sea birds playing around the rotor wash when sitting in a 40' hover pinging for subs. They have been known to miscalculate; I even had one go through the disk whilst running on the flight deck
