maybe we are going about this the wrong way ;-)
if we can't stop the birds, if we can't design an economical engine that will withstand birdstrikes...
HOW ABOUT clearing more land for emergency landing spots near huge metro areas.
They could use this land for a lovely park, devise a detection system for airplanes within 1000' of the ground over the park's approaches to turn on a siren to warn the park goers to CLEAR THE AREA for emergency landing.
Imagine if the polo grounds were still open? When the polo grounds were open in San Francisco many years ago, I got the impression I could set something down there in one piece...might not takeoff, but down in one piece!