Bird Strike at Night

[takair]

Have not been flying much at night in the past few years.  Tonight, a friend needed a ride.  On right base to final to my home airport, I was looking toward the runway, heard a pop, looked forward and saw blood and feathers right in front of my face.  Was about 1000 AGL.  I have previously noticed some crazy swift type bird that seems to like to fly around at night, I suspect it was on e of these.  Glad I did the thicker glass, not sure it would have come through either way, but still.  There is no evidence of it hitting anything besides the windshield.  I was at about 110mph at time.  Photo attached...must have been a fairly small bird.  Poor guy.  While I recognize the higher risks in night flying, I thought bird strikes were not high on the list of things to happen.  For those who fly at a lot at night, is this more common than I thought?

As a side note, I often forget how peaceful night flying can be.  On a smooth night I is like floating along in some strange time warp.  It almost offsets the increased risk in case of a forced landing.

[ArtVandelay]

Rumor has it that birds will keep their distance if you have strobes on, do you have strobes or a beacon?

[Cyril Gibb]

Some birds fly at night frequently.  Many moons ago in my Cherokee (with a beacon, no strobes), I hit what I think was a Canada Goose based on the feathers jammed under rivet heads.  It was about 2000' agl, 10:00 pm in December when a heard a LOUD bang and the plane shuddered.  It caught my attention right away.  I had no idea what happened until I got back on the ground.

The wing leading edge was pushed back about 4 inches along with a wing rib.  A windshield wouldn't have even slowed it down.

[AaronDC8402]

The only bird strike that I've personally witnessed was at night. A couple of guys were in a 172 on short final and hit 3 geese. No significant damage, but it rattled the pilot pretty good. Geese tend to hang out at one end of that runway (26 end of KDKX) certain times of year at night. If it's dark, I fly in from the other direction if possible just for that reason.

[kpaul]

You will notice more birds flying at night if the moon is up and closer to full.  I have managed to hit them at all hours of the night in numerous countries. 

[Marauder]

2 hours ago, kpaul said:

You will notice more birds flying at night if the moon is up and closer to full.  I have managed to hit them at all hours of the night in numerous countries. 

And Canada (aka Canadian for others) Geese are also IMC fliers. Quack, quack.

[takair]

6 hours ago, teejayevans said:

Rumor has it that birds will keep their distance if you have strobes on, do you have strobes or a beacon?

Beacon, nav and landing light on.  My strobes are in the basement for 3 years now waiting to be installed.  Just don't have it in me to string the wires.  Maybe he thought my landing light was a street lamp, way up high.

[Guest Mike261]

There is an easy way to file a bird strike report online now.

Im not sure but it may even be mandatory by now...I recall a few years back the NTSB chiding the FAA trying to force them to make bird strike reports mandatory as it is in canada.

Mike

[Browncbr1]

I choose not to fly at night for this and other reasons   

During the day, I leave my stoves and landing light on continuously, but It still seems as though I have to maneuver to avoid birds every time I fly.  Most recently a bald eagle at 2000agl. I'd hate to hit one of those massive birds.   

I was on the way to ne Ohio a few weeks ago and passed three small birds flying along at 10,000.    Eyes outside!

[takair]

Mike

Thanks.  Was quite easy.  http://wildlife.faa.gov/strikenew.aspx. One thing I didn't expect is that they want you to send the remains in.  I will have to pull the paper towel from the trash.  Will be curious to know what the bird was.

[Guest Mike261]

Just now, takair said:

Mike

Thanks.  Was quite easy.  http://wildlife.faa.gov/strikenew.aspx. One thing I didn't expect is that they want you to send the remains in.  I will have to pull the paper towel from the trash.  Will be curious to know what the bird was.

that i id not know...what is that for to determine the species?

Mike

 

[takair]

Yes, apparently.

[Guest Mike261]

Just now, takair said:

Yes, apparently.

did it say if reporting bird strikes was mandatory?

mike

[takair]

49 minutes ago, Mike261 said:

did it say if reporting bird strikes was mandatory?

mike

Just highly recommended from what I could tell.