Efficacy of avian radar systems for tracking birds on the airfield of a large international airport

Abstract

Avian radar technologies have the potential to serve an important role in the quantification of bird movements and determining patterns of bird use in areas where human–wildlife conflicts might occur (e.g., airports, wind‐energy facilities). However, capabilities and limitations of these technologies are relatively unknown and ground‐truthing studies are needed to help wildlife managers understand the biological meaning of radar information. We evaluated the efficacy of 3 X‐band marine radar sensors for tracking birds and flocks of birds observed on the airfield at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, USA, during March 2011–November 2012. We used specific information regarding field observations of birds or flocks to determine how frequently the 3 radar sensors provided corresponding tracks of these avian targets. In addition, we examined various factors to determine if they had any influence on the frequency of correspondence between visual observations and radar tracks. Of the 972 sightings of individual birds (49%) or flocks of birds (51%) by observers on the airfield that had the potential to be observed by the radar, 143 (15%) were tracked by ≥1 radar sensor. All confirmed tracks of individual birds or flocks were ≤4.8 km from these radars. Among the 3 radar sensors, larger bodied bird species, bird/flocks flying at higher altitudes, and bird/flocks closer to the radars increased the ability of those units to track avian targets. This study provides new information regarding the performance of radar systems for tracking birds on the airfield of one of the largest and busiest airports in the world. Published 2018. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

When can local bird detection radars best complement broad‐scale early‐warning forecasts of risk potential for bird–aircraft strikes as part of an integrated approach to strike mitigation?

“…Several researchers have evaluated the performance of mobile radars (e.g. BDRs) to track birds near airports (Gerringer et al 2015, Phillips et al 2018). Few, however, have examined the relationship between avian activity recorded by a BDR and the probability of strikes.…”

Wind power development in Eastern Kazakhstan threatens migration of eagles

“…Modern radars detect small birds at distances from 2 to 5 km, and large birds at distances of up to 12-15 km (Dokter et al, 2011;Nilsson et al, 2018;Phillips et al, 2018;Bennun et al, 2021). In particular, the Accipiter ® eBirdRad (Accipiter Radar Technologies, Inc.; Fonthill, ON, Canada) detected transmittertagged griffons and vultures up to 5 km away (Beason et al, 2010); Robin Radar Max © , a bird-search-only, with unlimited field of view, deployed at the Tahkoluoto WPP in Finland to prevent collisions of White-Tailed Eagles with wind generators and at the Kavarna WPP in Bulgaria to prevent collisions of migratory and key species (eagles, scavengers), showed a maximum distance up to 15 km for large birds detection (Bennun et al, 2021); STRIX Birdrack © , targeting both birds and bats, deployed at the Barão de São João in Portugal detected large birds at distances up to 12 km and completely eliminated fatal collisions in more than 5 years of operation (the radar was used in combination with watchers) (Tomé et al, 2017), and after deployment in Egypt, it detected flocks of large birds at distances up to 20 km and reduced fatal collisions to 5-7 per year from about 400,000 migrating birds passing through the WPP each season (Tomé et al, 2019).…”

“…Современные радары обнаруживают мелких птиц на расстоянии от 2 до 5 км, а крупных -до 12-15 км (Dokter et al, 2011;Nilsson et al, 2018;Phillips et al, 2018;Bennun et al, 2021). В частности радар Accipiter ® eBirdRad (Accipiter Radar Technologies, Inc.; Fonthill, ON, Canada) обнаруживал сипов и грифов, помеченных трансмиттерами, на расстоянии до 5 км (Beason et al, 2010); Robin Radar Max © , ориентированный только на поиск птиц, имеющий неограниченное поле зрения, развёрнутый на ВЭС Тахколуото в Финляндии для предотвращения столкновений с ветрогенераторами орланов-белохвостов и на ВЭС Каварны в Болгарии для предотвращения столкновений мигрирующих и ключевых (орлы, падальщики) видов, показал максимальное расстояние обнаружения крупных птиц до 15 км (Bennun et al, 2021); STRIX Birdrack © , ориентированный как на птиц, так и на летучих мышей, развёрнутый на Баран-де-Сан-Жуан в Португалии, обнаруживал крупных птиц на дистанции до 12 км и полностью устранил смертельные столкновения за более чем 5 лет функционирования (радар использовался в сочетании с наблюдателями) (Tomé et al, 2017), а после развёртывания в Египте обнаруживал стаи крупных птиц на дистанции до 20 км и сократил число смертельных столкновений до 5-7 в год при проходе через ВЭС около 400 тыс.…”

Airport Wildlife Hazard Management System

“…The most sophisticated radars are capable of detecting birds at a distance of up to 10 km [20] in any weather and light conditions [21], [22]. They are able to estimate the position and velocity of the bird, and even movement [23] of each flying object [24].…”