Navigating The Skies: A Race Between Evolution And Aviation's Dilemma
Concerns regarding bird hits have long occupied the minds of aircraft pilots, with good reason. While many of these collisions result in minor damage, the prospect of a cracked windshield, malfunctioning sensors, warped jet blades, or worse, an engine set ablaze by a chance avian encounter, is a troubling one. India”s Directorate General of Civil Aviation has reported a staggering 1,149 bird strikes in the first half of 2023, marking a significant 62.3% increase from the previous year. This spike is even more pronounced than the rise in flight numbers, during which these incidents usually occur. The issue itself is not new, prompting aviation authorities to adopt a dual strategy.
One approach involves conducting cleanup initiatives around airports, reducing food sources for scavenging birds. The other involves deploying innovative tools such as sound-buzz guns to deter birds from airspace shared with imposing metallic aircraft, a concept that appears lost on these winged creatures. The growing weight of aeroplanes has seemingly enabled urban birds to adjust their behaviour, stretching their feeding hours thanks to the constant vibration of runways that practically beckon worms to the surface throughout the day. This shift, however, raises questions about whether these adaptable avians can count on evolution to aid their survival amidst the modern aviation landscape.
Aviation safety officials are seeking insights from experts at the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History. As demonstrated by the propensity of birds to mimic human speech, they have an aptitude for learning from their surroundings. Whether their foraging habits have evolved in response to our intrusion into their skies is a pertinent area of study. Nonetheless, the immediate concern pertains to their ability to adapt quickly enough to navigate the perils of the aviation age. Can these creatures, which once inspired our desire to fly, rely on nature”s mechanisms to steer clear of aircraft during takeoffs and landings? The roaring, gleaming beasts that provide sustenance may also prove fatal, begging the question of whether such dangers are etched into their genetic makeup.
The challenge with evolution, however, is its unhurried pace. Developing genes for adaptive traits, such as heightened noise sensitivity, favoured by natural selection for “survival of the fittest,” requires numerous adjustments over countless generations to effect any meaningful change. The example of flying insects drawn to city lights demonstrates this slow process; even with centuries of exposure, many bugs remain unable to adapt to this artificial luminance. Similarly, though birds may exhibit a heightened sensitivity to human activity, expecting them to swiftly evolve new strategies in a high-stakes game of survival seems unrealistic.
Nature”s intervention alone cannot address the issue of bird strikes, let alone the broader crises we confront. The burden of safety falls squarely on our species, compelling us to prepare accordingly. Just as Richard Dawkins cautioned in his 2006 book “The God Delusion,” humans are not exempt from the kind of folly that ensnares even the most basic creatures. Vigilance is essential as we navigate this complex coexistence between the skies and their inhabitants.
