i usually request for high speed climb whenever possible. the Best Rate of Climb is usually higher than 250kts for most acft which is different from Best Angle of Climb which is usually a lower speed. from the computer, you saved close to 100kg for climbling at high speed (b777). dont know how accurate this is in real life but i am sure of the savings, just not the quantum.
as for bird strike, it's a consideration but i personally feels it's a very slim chance we have to take (as in the safest airline is one whose planes dont takeoff). there is no guarantee there's no bird above 10,000.
SR