City of Bowling Green scaring away thousands of birds with air cannons due to safety concerns
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – If you’ve traveled near Greenwood Mall by Red Lobster, you’ve likely seen them.
Hundreds and sometimes thousands of blackbirds have been flying and roosting in nearby trees. While the sight may be fascinating for drivers, officials say it has become a safety concern for pilots using the nearby airport.
“Runway three was the runway a pilot reported when he was landing and saw thousands of birds around him,” said Susan Harmon, manager of the Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport. “We’ve seen the birds migrate between where they nest and where they feed, and they fly directly over the airport.”
City officials say they have been working to find a solution to reduce the risk for pilots and believe they have found one: air cannons and lasers.
“We’re employing several methods, including air cannons you may hear in the background, pyrotechnics like consumer-grade fireworks, and lasers,” said Brad Schargorodski, division manager of animal protection. “Lasers work especially well against crows, which are the birds causing the issue in this area.”
While the approach may sound extreme, officials stress the methods do not harm the birds.
“It’s simply noise meant to scare the birds away from roosting in one area,” Schargorodski said. “We use these tools in multiple locations so the birds scatter and find other places to roost.”
The city will continue bird abatement efforts through the rest of the week. Officials say residents should not be alarmed if they hear loud noises near the mall area in Bowling Green.
