Re: strobe light on! when?
Captain Stable:
There is no research that I am aware of that indicates that aircraft lighting attracts birds. In fact the opposite is more likely true. Bird vision is such that turning on lights will increase the visibility of the aircraft and reduce the potential for bird strikes.
Before anyone asks - aircraft radar has no effect on birds, they cannot detect it so it is completely useless for reducing bird strikes.
Richard
A320 Captain and bird hazard researcher