Almost 70,000 Birds Are Killed To Clear Path For Air Flights In NYC

While the public has some grasp that birds are killed by wind generators and propellers on an air flight, they don't possess any idea about the real mortality numbers. However, it is revealed today that about 70,000 birds - gulls, starling, and geese - were killed just to make a safer and smoother way for air flights.

Active bird-killing programs have been carried out by different states and airports years after the "Sully" Sullenberger Hudson River crash in 2009. Birds were the culprits for having brought down the plane, officials say.

As reported by the Independent, authorities who promote and are involved in the bird-killing programs justifies that they bring an easy, effective solution to prevent air crash. "They believe they've made flying safer, with their strongest argument being the fact that there hasn't been a major crash involving a bird strike in the New York area since the Miracle on the Hudson," the article says.

This method of clearing the skies has been met with criticism from the public and environmental groups. GooseWatch NYC Jeffrey Kramer strongly pointed out that, "There has to be a long-term solution that doesn't rely so extensively on killing birds and also keeps us safe in the sky."

He suggested the state have a better radar system to detect a flock of birds. New York flights have always been hit with birds in their daily travels but no sever incidents happened since 2009.

The Guardian listed that over the 70,000 birds, 28,000 are seagulls, 16,800 European starlings, 6,000 cowbirds, 4,500 mourning doves and Canada geese of 1,830. The birds were commonly shot or trapped, then killed.

Nonetheless, there are 'kinder' officials who trap and relocate the birds they caught instead of slaughtering them. Some of these programs involve pyrotechnic methods to propel the birds away or by planting trees and incorporate insects that prevent birds nesting.