The bulletin reported that it was almost impossible to decisively conclude
that aircraft overflight was a cause of domestic fowl fatalities as there have
been isolated studies for certain types of fowl and aircraft. However to
execute controlled studies for all species with all types of aircraft would be
cost prohibitive.
grass‐mowing, and jogging can all adversely impact waterfowl and other
birds.
In all, aircraft overflight can have an adverse impact on wildlife and domestic
fowl, but majority of the time, the birds adapt to the noise, especially if it is
routine and frequent.
Additionally, the DOD reported that aircraft noise is not the only factor that
contributes to interruptions of breeding, nesting, feeding and survivability
among domestic fowl. The Bulletin indicates there are numerous factors
that influence production, fertility, hatchability, and laying that vary by
species. Such influencing factors include nutrition, age, lighting, water,
temperature, housing, health, and environmental stressors.
Source: US Federal Highway Administration, July 2011. Noise Effect on Wildlife retrieved
from https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/noise/noise_effect_on_wildlife/
effects/wild04.cfm
Findings
Ultimately, there are numerous factors that need to be considered in the
egg and meat production of domestic fowl, certainly environmental
stressors is one of those factors. However, it is not the only one that
contributes to sudden fatalities of domestic fowl.
Federal Highway Administration and United States Fish and
Wildlife: Noise Effect on Wildlife
The US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has partnered with the
US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to provide resources for interested
persons regarding the effects of noise on wildlife. The literature review
generally indicates that majority of the species adapt to noise. While there
are isolated cases where adaptability is not possible; this is not the norm.
Regarding noise aircraft overflight, the FHWA and USFWS report that there
is impact from aircraft noise on wildlife; however that impact lessens with
the distance between the aircraft and the wildlife. Moreover, the
departments identified that majority of the species learn to adapt to such
noises. In addition, the FHWA and USFWS identified that humans walking by
even at a distance of 600 meters can adversely impact the breeding or
roosting of brown pelicans. Other noises such as vehicular noise,
Page 5.18‐34
The Seymour Johnson AFB BASH Plan for February 2015 identifies
good flight safety measures regarding bird conditions and is
considered a benefit for reducing the noise impacts on birds and
waterfowl in the area.
The DOD, FHWA, and USFWS have conclusively reported that aircraft
noise can impact waterfowl, wildlife, and domestic fowl. However,
major losses caused by aircraft noise have not been conclusive.
In the 1990s, the DOD reported there was a major loss of about one
percent of domestic fowl due to aircraft noise.
The DOD, FHWA, and USFWS consistently report that majority of the
species adapt to various noise throughout their lifetime.
The DOD is very aware of the phenomena and actively takes steps to
plan and avoid, when possible, areas sensitive to birds for the
purposes of natural resource and wildlife protection.
Background Report