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Article Title:
Assessment Of Black Kite (Milvus Migrans) Activity Patterns And Bird Strike Risks At An Urban Airport In Nigeria
by Sunday Oladipo Olajesu, Funmilayo Lewiska Oni and Peace Taiwo Morawo

Abstract:
Bird-aircraft collisions pose significant risks to aviation safety, often resulting in severe damage, flight disruptions, and, in extreme cases, fatalities. The Black Kite (Milvus migrans), a medium-sized scavenging raptor, is frequently observed in airport environments due to its opportunistic feeding behavior and tendency to form large communal roosts. Despite the implementation of bird control measures, frequent bird strikes involving Black Kites have been reported at the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport in Ibadan, Nigeria. This study aims to assess the distribution, abundance, and flight behavior of Black Kites across different airport sectors to inform effective wildlife management strategies. Point transect sampling was used to monitor Black Kite activity within three airport sectors: airside, landside, and terminal building exterior. Observations were conducted from November to December 2024 at 15 designated observation points, covering morning and evening periods. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-Square tests, and one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results indicated a total of 1,529 Black Kite sightings, with the highest abundance recorded in the airside sector (595 observations). Flight behavior analysis revealed that 68.9% of kites engaged in gliding, while 21.8% were observed circling, behaviors that increase collision risk. The use of pyrotechnics as a deterrent proved minimally effective, prompting further investigation into alternative mitigation measures.Given the significant presence of Black Kites, particularly in high-risk areas, interventions such as habitat modification, enhanced waste management, and advanced deterrent technologies should be explored to mitigate bird strike risks and enhance aviation safety.

Keywords: Bird Strikes, Black Kite (Milvus Migrans), Aviation Safety, Wildlife Management, Airport Ecology

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