Migratory bird species as the primary contributors to wildlife collisions: a case study at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, China.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Wildlife collisions, especially bird strikes, pose a persistent threat to aviation safety. Identifying the species involved and understanding their ecological patterns are essential for effective risk mitigation. This study investigated wildlife strike incidents involving civil aircraft at Shanghai Pudong International Airport from 2014 to 2024, with a focus on species composition, migratory status, and seasonal variation based on molecular identification. RESULTS: A total of 1760 wildlife strike incidents were analyzed, of which 1397 samples were birds, 260 were mammals, 5 were other animals, and 98 samples could not be reliably identified. Molecular identification revealed 208 bird species associated with strike events. Migratory birds dominated strike risk, accounting for 1181 incidents (84.54%), whereas permanent resident species contributed only 216 incidents (15.46%). Among the ten most frequently recorded bird species, eight were migratory and only two were permanent residents. Clear seasonal patterns were observed, with species richness peaking in autumn and species diversity and evenness highest in spring, corresponding to major migration periods. In addition, several endangered and vulnerable bird species were identified among strike records, highlighting potential conservation concerns. CONCLUSION: Bird strike risk at Shanghai Pudong International Airport is primarily driven by migratory bird species, particularly during peak migration seasons. Although birds constitute the main hazard, the occurrence of mammal strikes, especially involving bats, requires greater attention in airport wildlife management. These findings emphasize the need for seasonally adaptive and migration-focused mitigation strategies and demonstrate the value of molecular identification for improving wildlife strike risk assessment and management at civil airports.