Identification of the factors attracting wildlife in the vicinity of AeropuertoToncontín

Abstract

Wildlife, especially birds, represent a danger for aviation especially in environments that have vegetation, water or power supplies for animals that may provoke incidents or accidents in aviation operations. The episodes especially of accidents caused by animals not add large numbers of cases in the aviation industry, but when they cause multibillion-dollar losses and even deaths, hence the importance of examining the phenomenon. In particular, this paper proposes a characterization of attraction sites of wildlife potentially affected to aircraft operations at the airport Toncontin and his perimeter area.

This research is limited to the collection of some of the abundant literature on the subject and proposed a methodological elements that can help frame the issue of endangered bird and wildlife in the defined area; to have a study incorporating field data requires more time and especially collaboration throughout the research process integrated by specialists in the field of biology that delve into a number of issues that were just mentioned. It is shown that the main animal risk in Toncontin International Airport is the Coragyps atratus (zopilote); nevertheless are also a risk other species of smaller size and weight that reach the airport in search of food, water and shelter.

Revista Ciencias Espaciales, Vol. 7(2) 2014, 96-108