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Warning that magpies could cause more airport collisions

Swooping magpies might strike fear into pedestrians and cyclists during nesting season but the birds are now becoming an increasing headache for airports as well.

A study from aviation risk consultancy Avisure and Deakin University scientists reveals magpies are becoming accustomed to aircraft noises, meaning they are less likely to fly away when they hear it.

The study did not confirm a direct link between this trend and the rate of collisions between the birds and aircraft.

There were 513 magpie strikes between 2006 and 2015, making them the sixth-most struck bird at airports across the country, according to an Australian Transport Safety Bureau report.

Loud noises at airports are becoming less of a deterrent for magpies, a study has found. Source: Deakin University
Loud noises at airports are becoming less of a deterrent for magpies, a study has found. Source: Deakin University

Researchers played aircraft sounds to the sets of birds and discovered magpies living in the proximity of airports were less likely to disperse, which in turn increased the risk of airstrikes.

“Our work and that of others has shown that some birds can increase their tolerance to aircraft noise, but it remains to be demonstrated whether this is a result of selection or within individual learning, or other processes,” the report read.

Yet researchers were unable to establish whether the change in response was a matter of nature or nurture.

Queensland was responsible for nearly a third of all birdstrikes across the country. Pictured is Brisbane Airport. Source: Getty
Queensland was responsible for nearly a third of all birdstrikes across the country. Pictured is Brisbane Airport. Source: Getty

“We cannot attribute these adaptations to specific processes, such as within-animal learning, local selection or recruitment, or a situation where magpies alter their responsiveness in a spatially dynamic fashion,” the report said.

A rise in bird strikes is a growing issue for airports which in extreme cases can lead to human fatalities as well as causing damage to equipment and creating major delays at airports.

Over the 10 year period between 2006 and 2015, there was a total of 16,096 bird strikes in Australia, with kites the most common bird struck while bats were the most common species hit, accounting for 1016 strikes.

Queensland was responsible for nearly a third of all the birdstrikes identified with 5,272, while NSW was second with 3,111.