Make the birds homeless - Cut The Grass!

[I Just Drive]

After recent events, I find myself more bird aware than ever before (and I mean the feathered kind). I have subsequently noticed how many airports let their grass get excessively long.

Surely if they kept the grass at bowling green levels, the birds have nowhere to hide and probably wouldn't choose to nest there either. At the moment, you hit V1 just as they rise out the long grass to see what all the noise is about.


CUT THE FRICKIN GRASS PEOPLE!!

Go to CIA, BGC, PIS, LIG, TUF, TRF to start with and you'll get the idea.

[Ancient Observer]

Whilst that's a sensible, simple idea, I can't see the civil servants who decide these things from Horseferry Road actually agreeing. They'd be too worried about having to pay Homeless allowances for the displaced birds. If they actually knew about the current flash bangs at airports they'd probably stop those, too.

[A and C]

A number of years back the RAF did a study into the habits of birds and found that they tend to flock on the ground if the grass is cut short.

The reason for this is that they feel safe and can see any thing that is a danger and if nessesary take to the wing.

The study showed that leaving the grass uncut provided cover for the birds preditors and made it less likely for the birds to settle on an airfield.

[llondel]

Short grass doesn't always help - you can end up with a load of worm-hunters and seed feeders on the grass which then rise up in a flock when disturbed. A lot of birds don't like longer grass - it hides predators and makes it harder for them to take flight when threatened.

So don't cut the grass...

[anotherthing]

Keeping grass long or short brings its own set of problems - just different species of bird.

Birdscaring is the most effective way of solving the problem

[nike]

pave the lot.

[anotherthing]

pave the lot.

Trafalgar Square - loads of concrete, sh1tloads of pigeons...!!!

[bast0n]

Turn the engines around and have the intakes at the back.............?

[gayford]

The RAF 'Long Grass' policy was to keep the grass length between circa 8ins and 14ins, not to leave it uncut. This was determined as the best length to reduce the liklehood of birds feeding or nesting. However, the 'Long Grass Policy' is only part of an overall airfield bird management system. Birdstrike reduction requires constant action!!

[racedo]

Trafalgar Square - loads of concrete, sh1tloads of pigeons...!!!

Thought they had declined massively since Ken banned their feeding.

[Buster the Bear]

Make the birds homeless - Cut The Grass!

I didn't realise that they smoked the stuff!

[I Just Drive]

Im talking about clipping it to lawn levels. Surely the birds arnt going to prefer that, they are so exposed. Even if they did, at least it allows the crews and airport staff to see them taxying out etc.. I cant do much about birds off the airport but at least i'd know there were none on it.

And its a cheap solution using existing resources.

CIA is an absolute joke. The 15 threshold is like a wildlife sanctuary. AND THEY HAVE ALREADY HAD AN AIRCRAFT BROUGHT DOWN!!

[befree]

You need some bird eating snakes. They go flat very easily if you run over them and tend not to fly too much. It may also keep intruders out of the airport.

[Sir George Cayley]

Have a look at CAP 772 Birdstrike Risk Management on Aerodromes from those lovely people in the Belgrano:ok:

There's a chapter on Long Grass Policy (LGP) which I think you'll find informative. Maybe show it to your airport manager too:ugh:

Sir George Cayley

[call100]

Long grass policy has long been in force at our place. It wiped out the huge flocks we had wintering on the airfield. The flocks don't like the long grass because they cannot see where the predators are coming from.
If it's not done properly however, it can be totally useless.
I suggest you follow Sir G's advice..Anyone cutting their grass short is asking for trouble....

[ATCO Fred]

Don't forget that long grass policy is coupled with other matters. A good bottoming out in the March to remove all the dead grass and then a good feed to encourage strong growth with a good quality sword - this creates a nice dense grass that means the birds are unsighted to the prey in the grass and go elsewhere. The grass must be regularly topped to sustain optimum length of between 150-200mm.

Short grass, whilst practical for other reasons - creates risings which offer protection/breeding places for invertebrates. A good proactive BCU is also essential - never give them a minute and regularly use lethal force - that'll learn them.

BUT - Runways are also a hazard - just have a look at all the worms on a RW during a wet, dull morning with all the birds feeding. If you are operating LVP's with a wet RW around dawn time you are in max Birdstrike risk territory!

[call100]

Don't forget that long grass policy is coupled with other matters. A good bottoming out in the March to remove all the dead grass and then a good feed to encourage strong growth with a good quality sword - this creates a nice dense grass that means the birds are unsighted to the prey in the grass and go elsewhere. The grass must be regularly topped to sustain optimum length of between 150-200mm.That is the Long grass policy being referred to.:eek:
The worms are a problem but thankfully they limit themselves to our taxiways for some reason....:)

[wawkrk]

One local council has lashed out and installed satnav systems on 20 grass cutters.The drivers claimed they were getting lost in the long grass.
Is that because they dont cut it ? :mad:

[Thaimike]

Don't bother cutting the grass, use a tractor/bowser to water frequently during the summer months and add a tot of whiskey to each refill, the grass comes up half cut!! Buggers the worms up as well!http://static.pprune.org/images/infopop/icons/icon7.gif

[I Just Drive]

Well whatever the best way of doing it is, it needs to be spread about Europe. Its getting silly.

[Ranger 1]

Having a long grass policy one of the most effective habitat management programs you can have, however, Maintaining it is another, allow it to grow too long it will encourage other species such as Partridges, Pheasants.

If the grass is topped off at the required height of 200mm and the area not bottomed out which means the grass cut down to 20mm and thatch removed every year or 3 years depending on the grass species growing and climate, you can create an ideal habitat for mice voles, etc. Which can attract birds of prey.
The Grass is bottomed out late march to mid April when most of the priority group of birds Gull etc are away at breeding sites, and to allow regrowth of grass in time for the winter.

Short grass is highly attractive to birds as they can see predators approaching from a distance, invertebrates are easily accessabile, and their take off run if required is not restricted by short grass.

I work at BRS and a major part of our job is Bird Hazard Control we are always willing to show aircrew around the airfield and answer any questions they may have, including other airline / airport staff.

Just PM me.

:ok:

[RVF750]

What about putting netting up on short poles (you could use other Eastern Europeans too if necessary)?

just an idea....

[Capot]

For the official word on the subject.....

Especially Section 2.6;

CAP772 (http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP772.pdf)

All good stuff for those who wonder about the amount of care that should be taken, and often is, to avoid birdstrikes.

A failure to carry it all out properly is just what liability lawyers love when the writs start flying after the aircraft stops doing that with a flock of LBJs' bits coming out of the back of the engines.

Edit:

Sorry, just seen that Sir G was way ahead of me. But I'll leave it here for the link, unless the Mods want to bin the post..