Habitat Management to Deter Wildlife at Airports (2014)

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46 GLOSSARY A Aircraft operations area (AOA)—Any area of an airport used or intended to be used for landing, takeoff, or surface maneuvering of aircraft. An aircraft 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 landing 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. B Bird balls—High-density plastic floating balls that can be used to cover ponds and prevent birds from using the sites. Bird strike—See Wildlife strike. C Control technique—Any design regulation, management effort, or change to a habitat feature intended to reduce attraction of wildlife. Cover—Vegetation over a ground surface serving as shelter for wildlife that are roosting, resting, nesting, or feeding. Cover types—A descriptive term characterizing vegetative 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). Dredge spoil containment areas—Dredge spoil is the material removed during dredging operations intended to help keep harbors or boat channels open when they become silted due to river or tidal actions. Dredge spoil containment areas are areas where dredge material is disposed of or stored. E Endophyte—A symbiotic organism, usually a bacterium or fungus, that lives within a plant without causing apparent damage. Endophytes can benefit host plants by preventing pathogens from colo- nizing and increase plant growth. Extirpation—Removal or extinction of a species from a specific area or portion of its range. G Granivorous—A diet consisting mostly of grain seeds. H Habitat—Collection of environmental features, man-made structures, and natural resources. Hazardous wildlife—Species of wildlife (birds, mammals, reptiles, insects, earthworms), including feral animals and domesticated animals not under control, that are associated with aircraft strike problems, are capable of causing structural damage to airport facilities, or act as attractants to

47 other wildlife that pose a strike hazard (AC 150/5200-33, Hazardous Wildlife Attractants on or near Airports; 14 CFR 139.3). Herbivore—An animal whose diet consists mostly of plant matter. L Loafing—Wildlife that are “loafing” are simply hanging around until it is time to look for food or a place to roost. M Migratory bird—“[A]ny bird, whatever 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, including any part, nest, or egg of any such bird, or any product, whether or not manufactured, which consists, or is composed 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 exception of nonmigratory game birds such as pheasants, turkeys, and grouse. Exotic and feral species such as greylag geese, Muscovy ducks, European starlings, house (English) sparrows, and rock pigeons (feral pigeons) also are not listed in 50 CFR 10.13 and are therefore not protected by federal law. P Passerine—A bird in the order Passeriformes, which includes perching birds and songbirds. 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, 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 birds to rest and sleep. Roosting birds often collect in large numbers. Pigeons, starlings, and blackbirds are the most commonly seen roosting birds. W Wastewater treatment facility—Any devices or systems used to store, treat, recycle, or reclaim municipal sewage or liquid industrial wastes, including Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW), as defined by Section 212 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (PL 92-500) as amended by the Clean Water Act of 1977 (PL 95-576) and the Water Quality Act of 1937 (PL 100-4). This definition includes any pretreatment involving the reduction of the amount of pollutants, the elimination of pollutants, or the alteration of the nature of pollutant properties in wastewater prior to or in lieu of discharging or otherwise introducing such pollutants into a POTW [40 CFR 404.3 (o), (p), (q)]. 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, Expor- tation, and Importation of Wildlife 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 geo- graphic feature that can attract or sustain hazardous wildlife within the landing or departure airspace, AOA, loading ramps (apron areas), or aircraft parking areas of an airport. These attractants can include

48 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 Hazard Assessment (WHA)—An evaluation of wildlife-related attractants and potential hazards to aircraft operations, often mandated by the FAA following a hazardous event or new potential threat. Wildlife Hazard Management Plan (WHMP)—When a hazardous event occurs or threat arises, the FAA may require airport operations to conduct a WHA. The WHA may determine that a personal- ized plan is needed for preventing and addressing specific wildlife threats for that airport. This is the WHMP and includes procedures and standard operating procedures for minimizing wildlife- related hazards at an airport. Wildlife strike—A wildlife strike has occurred when: • A pilot reports striking one or more birds or other wildlife; • Aircraft maintenance personnel identify aircraft damage as having been caused by a wildlife strike; • Personnel on the ground report seeing an aircraft strike one or more birds or other wildlife; • Bird or other wildlife remains, whether in whole or in part, are found within 200 feet of a runway centerline, unless another reason for the animal’s death is identified; or • The animal’s presence on the airport had a significant negative effect on a flight (i.e., aborted takeoff, aborted landing, high-speed emergency stop, aircraft left pavement area to avoid collision with animal) (criteria 1–4 adopted from Transport Canada 2002).