An Ohio airport believes tall prairie grass may be the solution to avoid runway collisions between birds and airplanes.
Dayton International Airport is planting prairie grass on up to 300 acres of the airfield's 2,200 non-aeronautical acres to test this theory. The goal is to have the tall grass beneath all the takeoff and landing paths by the end of this year, reports The Associated Press.
The Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm is involved with the experiment and is working closely with aviation officials.
In the U.S., more than 10,000 bird strikes are reported each year, according to AP. The birds don't always damage the planes, but sometimes get caught in the engines.
Runways are especially dangerous places to encounter birds due to the empty land airports use to create noise buffers for local residents. Migrating birds commonly make rest stops in these open lands and get in the way of planes.
Airports were on the lookout for new ways to keep birds out of their planes since the first reported bird strike in 1905. Airports can relocate the birds or resort to shooting or poisoning large flocks, reports AP.
Animal activists told AP they are looking forward to Dayton International Airport's use on non-lethal methods to keep birds away.
The prairie grass keeps away big birds (which cause the most dangerous bird strikes) because they fear a predator may be hiding in the tall grass.
