Avoid flying over bird and wildlife sanctuaries, landfill sites and fish packing facilities. Avoid flying along rivers or shore lines, especially at low altitude. Birds, as well as pilots, use these navigational features. To minimize the possibility of bird strikes and unnecessary disturbance of birds, DO NOT fly low over such areas. Avoid off-shore islands, headlands, cliffs, inland waters and shallow estuaries by remaining well clear, so as not to disturb nesting colonies.
Helicopters cause more disturbance to bird colonies than fixed wing airplanes.
While most bird species are active primarily during the day, bear in mind that many birds do fly at night, as well as during dawn and dusk. If there are two pilots, discuss emergency pro-cedures before departure, including those if cockpit communications are lost, or if the windshield is penetrated. Up to 80-90 knots, birds have time to get out of the way but the higher the speed, the greater the chance of a strike. Destroyed jet engine due to bird strike. There are three peaks during the year at which there is a greater risk of a bird strike.