Effects of birds on flight safety at Trabzon international airport, Turkey

In recent years, aviation experience in aircraft accidents in the bird-aircraft collisions have caused catastrophe, is one of the fastest-growing sectors. The birds have incrisingly threatened flight safety in the world. Therefore, this thesis investigates preferred habitats of birds and bird species threatening flight safety at the Trabzon International Airport in Trabzon in Turkey.Weekly field observations have been carried out between the months of September 2009 to May 2010. .Research area is defined in the field of midpoint of Trabzon Airport runway 13 km radius where is the safety landing and clibimg area for planes. Identification of brids and its? behaviors have been researched by camera, telescope, binocular. Satellite and aeral images have been evaluated for the landscape convertion in area.It has been identified that 125 bird species and the most effective 54 species of birds threatining flight safety for Trabzon airport. The major bird families threaten the flight safety have been ordered to Gulls, Doves, Croves, Waterfowls. It was find out that using sound system and the other applied bird reducing techniques have not been sufficient but patrol methods with veichle frightening in the airport. In addition, the birds prefer the specific habitats such as streams, Trabzon International Airport, Trabzon Port, Soil Products Office, filling areas, fish farms, fishing shelters, agricultural areas, coastal parks and gardens, cemeteries, marketing places were determined in the research area.