As we found out recently, birds can wreak havoc on their much larger neighbors in the sky. Each year, 7,000 collisions between birds and planes are reported, and while the feathered creatures don't usually cause crashes, the damage costs millions of dollars.
At Sacramento's airport, which has California's highest bird-strike rate, officials want legislation that would allow them to kill fearless birds. In fact, the initiative was introduced two days before the US Airways crash. Sacramento's airport is located on a wetland and directly in the flight path of migrating birds. This means the birds come in greater numbers and bigger sizes. Still, no crash or injury has occurred thanks to birds in Sacramento.
The airport has a federal permit to kill birds that won't be scared away by noisemakers, but state law prohibits killing nongame birds. Now they're asking the state to grant them a license to kill, too. Regardless of what you think about the city's decision to build an airport near a bird migration path and habitat, do you think the airport should be able to kill the birds, or is this a dangerous overreaction?
Shoe Studio
Marlies Dekkers
HTC
Lets pass legislation to kill all the animals that run in front of our cars every year too while we're at it.
1And outlaw wind, rain, ice and snow. Oh, and bright blinding sunlight has to go too.
2Or....I don't know....I'm reaching here....how about not building an airport on a wetland?
3Well they have devices like noise devices and other such things that seem to work but the birds get used to it. So why not rotate them so the birds don't get used to it?
4Well something tells me that the environmental groups that were against the location of this air port and saying "told you so", lol.
You see not all environmentalists are nuts, there is a reason to the madness and it is this reason that we need to heed in future land use development.
5Agreed hypno. It's just a dumb thing to do. We have some outlet malls that were put in on marshland 8 years or so ago. And they wonder why it floods almost every year.
6Speaking of stupid development, all of the grand houses that are built on erroding hill sides and cliff tops in California or anywhere else for that matter is just asking for grief. I'm not glad these people loose their homes to disaster but at the same time I'm like well what the hell did you expect.
7Exactly!
8you've got to be kidding me right? This is just all types of wrong. How about you don't built in these areas and you wont have to worry about it. This is as bad as people here in Florida who are building closer to the Everglades and other areas known for alligator activities and then complain when they get an alligator in their pools. It's their natural habitat so don't encroach upon. The stupidity of some people never fail to amaze me.
9Working for land use lobbyists has taught me that it's all about the money honey. People need to ween themselves off that $#!+, lol, yeah right!
10They COULD just make bird deterrents that actually work. But why do something that is peaceful and makes sense when instead you could just slaughter animals? Silly me.
11Are they effing serious? What a revolting idea.
12But the airport was built, and there is a potential for a loss of human life. So come on. Why should innocent people be put in danger? It won't bring the wetland back.
13Prohibit future stupidity, fine. But protect human life.
14Janneth, if they can put a plane in the air, they can make radar/noisemakers that work.
15Then let's do it!
16By the way, foxie, do you really believe that planes can fly?
Note to self: do not fly through the Sacramento airport. Ok, now that I know better to get on a plane that will have to go through a wetland and risk being brought down by a bird, hell no we shouldn't allow them to kill these birds due to "human stupidity." Allow this to be a lesson for future habitat destruction advocates. You know it couldn't have been done out of ignorance, there is no way enviromentalists wouldn't advise them of the problems prior to their creation of it.
17"You know it couldn't have been done out of ignorance, there is no way enviromentalists wouldn't advise them of the problems prior to their creation of it."
You're absolutely right BRANDYNICO I used to work for a Lab that handled environmental impact reports and now for Land Use Lobbyists. Developers know exactly what they're getting themselves into prior to development. However the $$$ at the time often out weighs the risk in their eyes.
One way to remmedy this is for communities to be more aware of there local planning commissions because the hearings are open to the public when new projects are introduced. Get in there and speak your mind most people don't and that's part of the problem.
18Ever saw the movie "The Birds?" Nuff said, just you wait, they'll be pissed later on, then we'll be in serious trouble.
19I already have anxiety about going to miami..these stories aren't helping.
I agree with everyone this is disgusting. Yes of course I would rather fly and not crash but to just be shooting birds out of the way? Sounds kinda harsh..Im sure they could find a better way.
20
Thanks GScott. I needed a good laugh.
21I used to work for a place that every spring and summer would get a snake infestation (seriously). Know why? Because they built the place on a swamp. Needless to say, I didn't work their very long.
Pretty much echoing everyone here...what the paf*ck!!! I've heard of slippery slopes, but I've never seen one acted out so directly.
22Let's see. Which came first, the airplane or the bird? Uh, I believe it was the bird and the skies KIND of belong to them. There has to be another way than killing them.
23Did anyone see the news report about a town in the northeast (I think) that poisoned 200-300 wrens because they were a nuisance? I saw the very last part of it, but didn't see where it was.
24wow, that is really low. poor birds
25Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.