BIRDS AND AEROPLANES 39 



BIRDS AND AEROPLANES. 

 By William Evans, iM.B.O.U. 



In these days of " flying men," the behaviour of birds in the 

 presence of aeroplanes has doubtless often been noted. Yet 

 very little appears to have been recorded on the subject, and 

 it is mainly in the hope of inducing others to make known 

 their experiences in the matter that I venture to record my 

 own very limited observations. Were some ornithologist 

 resident in the vicinity of, a thorough-going aerodrome to 

 set himself the task of observing, for say a year, the effects 

 of the establishment on the habits of the birds of the locality, 

 material for a highly interesting and valuable chapter on 

 bird-life would, it is safe to say, reward him for his trouble. 



The device of flying kites — to simulate birds of prey on the 

 wing — for the purpose of concentrating the game and making 

 them sit close, has long been known to sportsmen. That 

 birds should, in the same way, regard an aeroplane, especially 

 one of the monoplane type,, as a huge Falcon or other Raptor — 

 they are scarcely likely to look upon it as a Dove (Taube!) — 

 might be considered not only probable but natural. Never- 

 theless, I am disposed to think that were it not for the noise 

 of the engine, they would pay little heed to a passing 

 " plane." The noise of the engine rather than the shape of 

 the machine is, it seems to me, what really arrests their 

 attention and creates alarm in them, and even to that they 

 probably soon become familiarised. 



It was during the memorable aviation meeting at Lanark, 

 in August 19 lo, that I first had an opportunity of noting 

 the behaviour of birds in the presence of aeroplanes. Within 

 the barricades, the density of the crowd rendered observations 

 of this kind practically impossible. I therefore, on my 

 second visit, made my way to a point outside, but close to 

 the course, at a part well removed from that to which the 

 public were admitted. During the couple of hours spent 

 there, binoculars in hand, Rooks, Wood-pigeons, and Gulls were 

 several times seen crossing the course while aeroplanes were 



