Food is now scarce in areas where vultures abound. Wherever food is available there is a lack of safety while feeding, resting and roosting owing to competing mammalian scavengers and their greatest enemy, man. The financial loss due to the absence of vultures is equivalent to that of their increased populations, which causes financial loss to aviation. The presence of vultures in optimum numbers (about 400 birds) is therefore required in areas prone to natural disasters such as cyclones, floods, tsunamis, etc. where disposal of carcasses is a mammoth task for municipal workers. Setting up Vulture Restaurants in strategic locations far away from aerodromes(at least 100km) will be the best vulture conservation tool that keeps vultures tied to the feeding site without a thread, thus minimising vulture strike hazards to aircraft flight safety.
The Canada goose has been ranked as the third most hazardous wildlife species to aircraft (behind deer and vultures),[7] with approximately 240 goose-aircraft collisions in the United States each year. 80% of all bird strikes go unreported.[8]
Vulture Strike Download] [FULL]
Bird strikes happen most often during takeoff or landing, or during low altitude flight.[12] However, bird strikes have also been reported at high altitudes, some as high as 6,000 to 9,000 m (20,000 to 30,000 ft) above the ground. Bar-headed geese have been seen flying as high as 10,175 m (33,383 ft) above sea level. An aircraft over the Ivory Coast collided with a Rüppell's vulture at the altitude of 11,300 m (37,100 ft), the current record avian height.[13] The majority of bird collisions occur near or at airports (90%, according to the ICAO) during takeoff, landing and associated phases. According to the FAA wildlife hazard management manual for 2005, less than 8% of strikes occur above 900 m (3,000 ft) and 61% occur at less than 30 m (98 ft).[citation needed]
Most bird strikes involve large birds with big populations, particularly geese and gulls in the United States. In parts of the US, Canada geese and migratory snow geese populations have risen significantly[21] while feral Canada geese and greylag geese have increased in parts of Europe, increasing the risk of these large birds to aircraft.[22] In other parts of the world, large birds of prey such as Gyps vultures and Milvus kites are often involved.[5] In the US, reported strikes are mainly from waterfowl (30%), gulls (22%), raptors (20%), and pigeons and doves (7%).[21] The Smithsonian Institution's Feather Identification Laboratory has identified turkey vultures as the most damaging birds, followed by Canada geese and white pelicans,[23] all of which are very large birds. In terms of frequency, the laboratory most commonly finds mourning doves and horned larks involved in the strike.[23]
During the 1952 edition of the Carrera Panamericana, eventual race winners Karl Kling and Hans Klenk suffered a bird strike incident when the Mercedes-Benz W194 was struck by a vulture in the windscreen. During a long right-hand bend in the opening stage taken at almost 200 km/h (120 mph), Kling failed to spot vultures sitting by the side of the road. When the vultures were scattered after hearing the virtually unsilenced W194 coming towards them, one vulture impacted through the windscreen on the passenger side. The impact was enough to briefly knock Klenk unconscious. Despite bleeding badly from facial injuries caused by the shattered windscreen, Klenk ordered Kling to maintain speed, and held on until a tire change almost 70 km (43 mi) later to clean himself and the car up. For extra protection, eight vertical steel bars were bolted over the new windscreen.[64] Kling and Klenk also discussed the species and size of the dead bird, agreeing that had had a minimum 115-centimetre (45 in) wingspan and weighed as much as five fattened geese.[65]
So as long as the wind is blowing, sun is shining and the vultures are hoping, the great Vulture Strike is and will be taking place! The good news is that you are not limited only to watching, you can help them in trying to achieve their aim. If you have enough power in your hands, you can use it to strike the vultures in the right direction. Everey inch counts!
You can strike with your friends and send your score to our server, so it can be compared with the rest of the world. Even if you don`t help vultures to achievie their aim, you will let them think, that they are doing a good job.
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