Airport Wildlife Population Management (2013)

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45 F Furbearer. Refers to mammals that are generally hunted or trapped for their fur, such as foxes, raccoons, and minks. G General aviation aircraft. All civilian aircraft not owned or operated for commercial passenger transport. General aviation airport. Public use airports that are closed to air carrier operations except in unusual circumstances such as emergencies. Guild. Groups of different species that generally occupy similar habitats or niches and behave similarly, but do not necessarily follow traditional taxonomic relationships. H Hazardous wildlife. Species of wildlife (birds, mammals, reptiles, insects, earth worms), including feral animals and domesticated animals not under control, that are associ- ated with aircraft strike problems, are capable of causing structural damage to airport facilities, or act as attractants to other wildlife that pose a strike hazard L Loafing. Wildlife that are “loafing” are simply resting, waiting until it is time to look for food or a place to roost. M Mammal strike. See Wildlife strike. Mesomammal. Intermediate-sized mammals, not necessarily taxonomically related. Metapopulation. A group of spatially separated populations of the same species that interact at some level. Defined as a population of populations. Migratory bird. “[A] migratory bird [is] . . . any bird what- ever its origin and whether or not raised in captivity, which belongs to a species listed in Section 10.13 [of 50 CFR] or which is a mutation or a hybrid of any such species, includ- ing any part, nest, or egg of any such bird, or any product, whether or not manufactured, which consists, or is com- posed in whole or part, of any such bird, or any part, nest, or egg thereof” (50 CFR 10.12). This list includes almost all native bird species in the United States, with the excep- tion of nonmigratory game birds such as pheasants, turkeys, and grouse. Exotic and feral species such as Graylag Geese, Muscovy Ducks, European Starlings, House (English) Spar- rows, and Rock Pigeons (feral pigeons) also are not listed in 50 CFR 10.13 and are therefore not protected by federal law. Movement area. The runways, taxiways, and other areas of an airport that are used for taxiing or hover taxiing, air taxiing, takeoff, and landing of aircraft, exclusive of loading ramps (apron areas) and aircraft parking areas (14 CFR 139.3). A Air carrier aircraft. An aircraft that is being operated by an air carrier and is categorized as either a large air carrier aircraft if designed for at least 31 passenger seats or a small air carrier aircraft if designed for more than 9 passenger seats but less than 31 passenger seats, as determined by the aircraft type certificate issued by a competent civil aviation authority (14 CFR 139.5). General aviation aircraft include all other civilian owned and operated aircraft. Airport operations area (AOA). Any area of an airport used or intended to be used for landing, takeoff, or sur- face maneuvering of aircraft. An airport operations area includes such paved areas or unpaved areas that are used or intended to be used for the unobstructed movement of aircraft in addition to its associated runway, taxiways, or apron. Airport. An area of land or other hard surface, excluding water, that is used or intended to be used for the land- ing and takeoff of aircraft, including any buildings and facilities (14 CFR 139.5). Airport operator. The operator (private or public) or sponsor of a public-use airport. Approach or departure airspace. The airspace, within 5 statute miles of an airport, through which aircraft move during landing or takeoff. B Barrier fence. Wildlife deterrent fencing that creates either a visual barrier such as construction/silt fencing or physical barrier consistent with FAA guidelines to exclude wildlife from airfields. Bird hazard. See Wildlife hazard. Bird strike. See Wildlife strike. C Compensatory mortality. Ecological principle by which increased mortality from one factor is offset by reduction in mortality from other factors. Cover. Vegetation over a ground surface serving as shelter for wildlife that is roosting, resting, nesting, or feeding. Cover types. A descriptive term characterizing vegeta- tive composition and physical characteristics of a plant community. D Detention ponds. Stormwater management ponds that hold stormwater for short periods of time, generally less than 48 hours (compare with retention ponds). E Ecological niche. The function or role an organism fills in its environment. Glossary

46 P Piscivorous. Organism that eats fish. Public airport. An airport used or intended to be used for public purposes, which is under the control of a public agency, and of which the area used or intended to be used for landing, taking off, or surface maneuvering of aircraft is publicly owned [49 USC § 47102(16)]. Pyrotechnics. Various combustible projectiles launched from a shotgun, pistol, or other device that produce noise, light, and smoke to frighten wildlife. R Raptors. An inclusive term referring to all birds of prey, such as hawks, falcons, eagles, vultures, and owls. Retention ponds. Stormwater management ponds that hold water for long periods of time, generally more than 48 hours (compare with detention ponds). Roost. Most commonly the term refers to a perch or general area (such as trees or buildings) used by (roosting) birds to rest and sleep. Roosting birds often collect in large num- bers. Pigeons, starlings, and blackbirds are commonly seen roosting birds. T Take (wildlife). To pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect or to attempt to pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect any wild animal (50 CFR 10.12). W Wildlife. Any wild animal, including without limitation any wild mammal, bird, reptile, fish, amphibian, mollusk, crustacean, arthropod, coelenterate, or other invertebrate, including any part, product, egg, or offspring thereof (50 CFR 10.12, Taking, Possession, Transportation, Sale, Purchase, Barter, Exportation, and Importation of Wild- life and Plants). As used in this manual, wildlife includes feral animals and domestic animals out of the control of their owners (14 CFR 139, Certification of Airports). Wildlife attractants. Any human-made structure, land-use practice, or human-made or natural geographic feature that can attract or sustain hazardous wildlife within the landing or departure airspace, airport operations area, loading ramps (apron areas), or aircraft parking areas of an airport. These attractants can include but are not limited to architectural features, landscaping, waste disposal sites, wastewater treatment facilities, agricultural or aquaculture activities, surface mining, or wetlands (AC 150/5200-33). Wildlife hazard. A potential for a damaging aircraft collision with wildlife on or near an airport (14 CFR 139.3). Wildlife strike. A wildlife strike has occurred when: 1. A pilot reports striking one or more birds or other wildlife; 2. Aircraft maintenance personnel identify aircraft dam- age as having been caused by a wildlife strike; 3. Personnel on the ground report seeing an aircraft strike one or more birds or other wildlife; 4. Bird or other wildlife remains, whether in whole or in part, are found within 200 feet of a runway center- line, unless another reason for the animal’s death is identified; or 5. The animal’s presence on the airport had a significant negative effect on a flight.