The Calgary International Airport’s wildlife control program is kicking into high gear with the arrival of the spring migration season.
On Sunday, a United Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Calgary after a large bird hit one of its engines and damaged the fan blades.
The plane landed safely and no one was injured.
Terry Thompson, director of Environmental Services at the airport, says the bird was likely a goose.
“Definitely the size of the bird increased the risk in terms of a strike in this particular circumstance. We are not sure if it’s a goose yet -we don’t have the remains- however aircraft are designed to withstand about a four pound bird being struck.”
“Strikes with this type of impact give people in my area heartburn,” Thompson adds.
Wildlife control employees are on duty around the clock at this time of year, using pyrotechnics to scare away birds. They also cover pools of water on airport property with wire to discourage nesting.
Birds that pose the biggest threat include geese, owls and eagles.
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