Phila. airport works to keep birds at bay

What does Philadelphia International Airport do to fend off pesky birds that might fly into jet engines?

Turns out, plenty.

Commercial airports have "wildlife hazard management" plans approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.

At the Philadelphia airport, staff actively monitors the airfield 24 hours a day for birds and wildlife, deputy aviation director Mark E. Gale said.

"Some things we do are preventive: We reduce brush, grasses and vegetation that attracts primarily birds, but all animals," said Gale, who oversees airport operations and facilities.

"We reduce standing water that attracts birds, and make sure our fence line is secure and tight so that animals cannot burrow underneath," he said. A 10-foot-high fence surrounds the airport to keep deer from straying onto runways.

Then there are sound deterrents - sirens and "pyrotechnic devices" that resemble guns and, when fired, make loud, annoying sounds.

Airport officials often get reports about birds from air-traffic controllers and pilots.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture also has a wildlife biologist and a wildlife technician at the airport to work with employees on controlling birds and other wildlife.

But there is not much an airport can do if birds strike a plane that is 3,000 feet in the air and miles away, Gale said.

The Philadelphia airport keeps a watchful eye on the Delaware River because one runway is adjacent to the river.

"We are concerned with birds year-around," Gale said. But, "thankfully," he said, there has been no serious incident here.