I think the thread title should reflect the reality that the reporting of bird strike incidents has nearly doubled.
Mother nature doesn't change her knickers as often as the original title implies.
Some of the reportings could indeed be due to pilots and ground crews dilligence in reporting criteria, whilst the more significant events (severe damage or multiple engine, aircraft surface strikes) show less of an increase.
Also the speculation of more hoovering of birds into larger engines doesn't jibe with engine inlet area. The birds have a tendancy to see and avoid large moving shadows. The increase is more linear than area increases (squares).