No such thang as a Seagul, 'specially round Jamaica Bay! Them's Garbage Dump Gulls; never get their pink or yellow feet wet. Try saying "I hit a Gull" people will think you know a thing or two. Then add "By its size it might have been a Herring Gull" now they think you're an ornithologist:ok:

In all cases, if you find any remains on the airframe DNA can narrow down the species, but be carreful not to contaminate the sampl as it comes back as Chimpanzee:eek: Feathers are even better as each species has a sort of fingerprint in the spine of each feather.

If you do indentify the bird, then let the airport Bird Unit know (And no the Bird Unit is not the Hosties rest area:{) It may add to their sum of knowledge and lead to measures to reduce the likelihood of it happening again.

Oh, and file it - ASR MOR or strike rep.

Sir George Cayley

birds of passage
 

Manx shearwaters get well aloft on their journey to South America, sooty terns also and both are known to fly by night. Technically the dotterel flies by night too when it summers in the mountains of North Scotland. I wonder how high insects get?