[Music]
Air Traffic Control: Cactus 1549, Terminal 270 -
Capt. Sullenburger (Pilot): Ah, this is Cactus 1549,
Hit Birds...Lost thrust in both engines.
Returning back towards Laguardia."
Air Traffic Control: "Sorry...Stop your Departures.
We got an emergency returning. Yea it was a bird strike.
...Can I get him in for Runway 1?"
Capt. Sullenbuger (Pilot): "We can't do it.
We are going to be in the Hudson."
Air Traffic Control 2: "2718...
Ah I think he said he was going into the Hudson....
[Eerie music]
Narrator: The flight that landed in the Hudson River
may be the best known bird/aircraft collision,
but every strike and every airport deserves
and should receive the same attention.
From collecting remains to identifying species
at the Smithsonian Institution's bird lab.
A strike at your airport is just as important.
These guidelines will help you collect and ship
specimens and report strikes.
In order to learn the species responsible
and develop plans to reduce strike risks.
[Music]
As long as birds and humans continue to share the skies,
Bird/aircraft collisions or "Bird strikes" are inevitable.
Today, bird strikes are an increasing safety concern,
costing the global aviation industry more than $1 billion
a year and putting precious lives at risk.
Biologists and aviation experts in government and
the private sector are working to prevent future
bird strikes..and we need your help.
Increased reporting to military and national
strike database and better technology
are giving the industry unparalled intelligence
on bird strike trends.
The first line of prevention lies in understanding
the specific types of birds that are involved.
We can't fix the problem if we don't know the cause.
Once the bird species is known, wildlife specialists
can use information on species ecology,
habitat needs, and migration patterns,
to help airports develop tailored habitat
management programs to alleviate the potential
for bird-aircraft collisions.
...And It all begins with you.
[Music]
We need you to report every strike to your
organization and send remains for identification.
You can collect bird strike evidence and send it
to the Smithsonian Institution's Feather
Identification Lab in Washington, DC.
This lab specializes in identifying bird species
involved in bird strikes for military and civil aviation.
Bird strike samples submitted to the Feather Lab
are identified by the combination of DNA analysis,
microscopic feather characters,
and comparing whole feathers, or feather fragments
to the museum's comprehensive collection of bird specimens.
This video is your guide to reporting bird strikes
and will show you:
How to Collect evidence from a bird strike,
How to ship the evidence,
and the Follow-up to the reporting process.
Remember: Report ALL Bird strikes and send
remains for species identification.
It is required for most military,
and is encouraged for civil aviation.
Your information is crucial to help prevent bird strikes.
If a bird strike occurs at your airport,
reporting the incident and having
the bird remains identified, can make a difference.
In the U.S.A, civil bird strikes can be reported to
the FAA database on-line with the form FAA 5200-7.
U.S. Air Force bird strikes should be reported
online through AFSAS. The Air Force safety
automated system.
The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps can report
bird strikes with WESS, the Web Enabled Safety System.
Collecting evidence is a vital first step in bird strike
species identification. Even if the bird species is known,
it is recommended to send material to the Smithsonian
to confirm and document the information.
Material you recover may be in the form of
a whole or partial carcass,
whole feathers,
feather fragments
or "snarge," a term used to describe blood and tissue
from a bird strike.
To keep the identification process accurate and efficient.
The lab recommends collecting feathers, blood,
tissue or any other minute evidence or bird
part that is found after a bird strike.
The more evidence collected the better.
If you recover a whole bird, pluck a variety of
feathers from the breast, back, wing and tail.
Be sure to pluck not cut the feathers.
The fluffy, downy part at the base of the feathers
can be important evidence for species ID.
Also, do not use any sticky substance such as tape.
For partial birds, collect the best variety
of feathers available.
Especially feathers that show any color or pattern.
If you find feathers only,
send all material that is available.
All feather material should be placed in
a clean re-sealable plastic bag.
If all that is available is blood or tissue,
send as much material as you can.
The best way to collect this type of bird strike remains,
is to wipe the area with a pre-packaged alcohol wipe,
or spray the area with alcohol,
and wipe with a clean towel or cloth.
Another way to collect bird strike snarge
that is fresh is to use a DNA collecting card.
Use a sterile applicator to wipe off material.
Press the applicator to the card to transfer
the material to the card.
Allow the card and applicator to dry
before sealing it in the bag.
Include the applicator and any available feathers
with the card.
When collecting blood and tissue for DNA analysis,
always start with clean collecting material.
DO NOT use water, bleach or other cleansers
to collect blood and tissue.
They destroy or degrade DNA.
If both feathers and snarge are found,
send both types of evidence.
It is all useful in the analysis.
When packaging the material,
be sure to allow samples to dry before shipment.
This helps prevent mold growth which degrades DNA.
Secure all material in resealable plastic bag.
Be sure to collect bird remains from each part of
the aircraft that was struck.
If the plane was hit with multiple strikes,
submit each sample.
Write the identifying report number
and incident information on the bag of remains
with permanent marker.
Be sure to enclose a copy of the AFSAS shipping sheet,
WESS report, or FAA form 5200-7,
with the bagged and labeled remains.
There are two options for shipping bird strike cases.
For Routine/Non-Damaging cases standard postal service is fine.
If a case is priority or damaging,
overnight shipping is recommended.
Always use safe handling precautions when handling
bird strike evidence.
Wear gloves and practice common-sense hygiene.
Thoroughly wash hands with soap and water
or use hand sanitizers.
Although the transfer of avian disease to humans
is extremely rare, and the global spread of
disease alerts us to take care when handling
and collecting bird remains.
Your organization might want to assemble your own
"Bird strike Collecting Kits" in advance of an incident.
Having pre-made kits available improves strike reporting
and encourages the sampling of bird strike remains.
You can keep a supply in field vehicles or office
supply cabinets for quick access.
Items recommended for kits include:
Re-sealable plastic bags of various sizes,
Permanent Markers,
Pre-packaged alcohol wipes or spray bottle with alcohol,
Paper or cloth wipes,
Personal Safety Items including:
Latex Gloves,
Protective Eyewear,
Face Masks,
Hand sanitizing gel,
and DNA collection Card and Sterile Applicators.
Once the lab has a final identification,
the species information is entered into the on-line
bird strike report.
An electronic copy of the revised report
is sent to the contact noted for that report.
On-line reporting is strongly recommended and may be required.
Please include email contact information.
Please remember these important steps when
a bird aircraft collision occurs.
Collect remains,
file a report,
and ship remains for identification.
Today, more than 108,000 bird strikes
are stored within the system that is maintained
by the USDA's Wildlife Services for
the Federal Aviation Administration.
The military has reported around 100,000
documented cases of bird strikes.
The vital data provided by your reporting and collection
of bird strike evidence is used by aviation personnel including:
biologists,
airfield managers,
accident investigators,
and engineers,
to interpret damage,
assess environmental management,
and create bird strike risk models.
Remember: Everybody needs to report bird strikes -
not just the military.
Not just large municipal airports.
Even small airports need to report a bird strike.
Every airport.
Every bird strike.
Your effort and your information could help
mitigate the bird strike problem.
In doing so you are helping make the skies
safer for us all.
[airplane engine sounds]
More information on bird strike reporting can be
found at your organization's website.
[Closing Music]