Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
NORTH AMERICAN AVIATION WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE, Oregon, Amerika Birleşik Devletleri, 26 - 28 Ağustos 2025, ss.11, (Özet Bildiri)
This study, conducted at Trabzon International Airport (TIA) between February 2021 and February 2022, evaluated the effectiveness of integrating trained dog patrols with adaptive vegetation management to mitigate bird strike risks. A total of 75 structured observations were carried out using a combination of direct avian monitoring, deployments of professionally trained dogs, and camera traps installed across various zones of the airfield to monitor bird presence and behaviour. Statistical analysis using paired samples t- t-tests revealed a highly significant reduction—84. 8%—in the number of resident birds following the introduction of trained dogs (p < 0. 01), confirming their strong deterrent efficacy as a biological control method. Concurrently, the study recorded increased bird activity when grass height exceeded 25–30 cm, emphasising the role of vegetation structure in influencing habitat attractiveness for birds. The findings support a dual strategy: maintaining taller grass during non-migratory seasons to concentrate resident birds in defined zones and enhancing the effect of trained dogs through predator-like pressure, while lowering grass height during migratory periods to reduce the airfield’s attractiveness and visibility to transient bird species. This seasonally adaptive approach enables a dynamic management model in which biological (dogs) and technological tools (monitoring systems) are intensified during high-risk periods. Informed by natural predator-prey dynamics, this strategy enhances deterrence while minimizing harm to wildlife. By mimicking ecological processes and integrating habitat modification with behavioral deterrents, this model offers a sustainable, non-lethal alternative to traditional wildlife control practices. The study advocates for science- based, professionally managed airport wildlife hazard programs that align ecological understanding with operational safety and regulatory compliance, ultimately providing an effective and humane solution for reducing bird strike incidents and safeguarding aviation operations.