Aircraft Bird Strike Prevention: Why Fall Is Peak Season for NJ Pilots

Manufacturers design and test aircraft to withstand most bird strikes. It only becomes problematic when a bird makes contact with fragile or critical components. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proactively engaged in aircraft bird strike prevention through its official manual on Wildlife Hazard Management at Airports and the Wildlife Strike Database, which collects accurate data to better understand the extent and nature of the issue.

In this article, we explore the prevalence of wildlife strikes in U.S. aviation and why fall is the peak season for bird strikes. We also discuss the flight phases that are at highest risk for bird strikes and how pilots and airports can reduce the likelihood of these incidents occurring.

How Common Are Wildlife Strikes in U.S. Aviation?

According to the FAA, wildlife strikes in the United States are increasing. It is not surprising when you consider that the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization (ATO) handled over 16 million flights in FY2024 across more than 29 million square miles of airspace. More than 166,000 fixed-wing general aviation aircraft flew across the country in the period for which the statistics were calculated. 

The FAA is concentrating on four research areas to mitigate the risk and improve aircraft bird strike prevention. The areas are:

• Habitat management.
• Wildlife dispersal, removal, and exclusion.
• Detecting and predicting wildlife behaviors and movements to help aircraft avoid high-risk situations.
• Innovative aircraft lighting schemes so birds can detect and avoid aircraft. 

Why July Through October Is Peak Bird Migration Season for Aviation

Aircraft bird strike prevention reaches a peak during the fall season, as approximately 54% of all bird strikes occur from July to October. Why? During this time, young birds have fledged from the nests, and flocks start migrating south in search of warmer weather and food. Reporting bird strikes to the FAA Wildlife Strike Database is voluntary, but the statistics are valuable. It is interesting to note the comparison between the top five bird species identified by the FAA database and the Department of the Air Force (DAF) Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) program. 

FAA	DAF BASH
Mourning Dove	Horned Lark
Killdeer (large plover)	Mourning Dove
Barn Swallow	Barn Swallow
American Kestrel	Killdeer (large plover)
Horned Lark	Eastern Meadowlark

Highest-Risk Flight Phases for General Aviation Bird Strikes

The majority (62%) of bird strikes with civil fixed-wing aircraft occur in daytime. The landing phase (descent, approach, and landing roll) carries the highest risk (61%), as aircraft must fly at low altitudes where birds are naturally present. What about helicopters? Approximately 75% of strikes occur en route. 

An FAA and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services report, published in June 2025, states that there has been a significant increase in the damaging strike rate at general aviation airports for flights on approach or climb at ˃1,500 feet above ground level (AGL).

How NJ Pilots and Airports Can Reduce the Odds of a Strike

Birds are not the only animals causing aviation strikes. Deer and coyotes are also problematic. How can the odds of a strike be reduced? NJ Pilots can take several steps, including:

• Be vigilant during takeoff.
• Maintain the departure airspeed at or below 250 knots at altitudes below 10,000 feet.
• Make the aircraft as visible as possible by keeping exterior lights on.

Airports have several aircraft bird strike prevention options beyond those mentioned in the FAA manual. It all depends on the airport’s unique requirements. Newer solutions include the use of drones (unmanned aerial systems) to view and manage areas that are difficult to access, such as rough terrain or large bodies of water. They are useful tools for monitoring, detecting, and managing hazardous wildlife along designated routes.

Bird Strike Statistics From the FAA Wildlife Strike Database

The FAA reports that in 2025, the following number of wildlife strikes took place:

• 24,450 at 7,780 U.S. Airports
• 340 strikes at 132 airports in 62 countries, as reported by U.S. air carriers. 

What about New Jersey, where Monmouth Executive Airport is based?  

• 276 incidents were reported on the FAA Wildlife Strike Database in 2025.
• The majority of incidents took place in the daytime during approach.
• Strikes with white-tailed deer, an Eastern rat snake, an Eastern red bat, and a common snapping turtle were reported.
• Three American Bald Eagle incidents were reported. One took place at approximately 3,600 feet altitude, where the bird struck the aircraft’s fuselage below the pilot’s window.

Aircraft bird strike prevention is an important consideration for all airports. Monmouth Jet Center at Monmouth Executive Airport offers world-class FBO services to owners and operators of large private jets, helicopters, and piston aircraft. Contact Monmouth today for more information on our services or view our website: https://monmouthjetcenter.com/