ENR 5.6 BIRD MIGRATION AND AREAS WITH SENSITIVE FAUNA

1 BIRD MIGRATION

1.1 General

Birds migrate year-round in a broad front over the Netherlands, with dense migratory routes along the coastal region and the Dutch-German border. Birds also commute between sleeping/breeding and foraging sites all year round and in all regions of the Netherlands. Colliding with birds, especially large and or flocking ones, could jeopardize the safety of the aircraft, its crew and passengers.

1.2 Spring migration

Spring migration takes place in the months March, April and May and peaks during strong SW/W winds. Migration is less likely during periods of rain.

1.3 Autumn migration

Autumn migration takes place in the months mid-August, September, October and Mid-November and peaks during strong NE/E winds. Migration is less likely during periods of rain.

1.4 Migration altitudes

High bird densities occur up to altitudes up to 6000 FT AGL during the night and 4000 FT AGL during the day. Local bird movements around sunrise and sunset occur up to altitudes of 1000 FT AGL.


Density of bird movements:
1 = low density
5 = high density
1.5 Bird migration forecast

The FlySafe Bird Avoidance Model (https://www.flysafe-birdtam.eu) provides near real-time and forecast information on large scale bird movements over Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. The data are disseminated via BIRDTAMs (bird notice to airmen) to military pilots.

1.6 Reporting of bird strikes

To achieve more comprehensive statistics of bird strikes, the Civil Aviation Administration is collecting information on bird strikes. All pilots on flights within Amsterdam FIR are therefore requested to report all cases of bird strikes or incidents where a risk of bird strike has been present. Information about the reporting process can be found on https://www.ilent.nl/onderwerpen/voorvallen-luchtvaart.

2 AREAS WITH SENSITIVE FAUNA

2.1 General

Sensitive fauna are animals that are sensitive to disturbance by human activities like, among others, overflying aircraft:

  • birds breeding in colonies;
  • birds congregating in large flocks, and
  • seals.
2.2 Minimum flight altitude

To avoid disturbing sensitive fauna, pilots are strongly advised not to cross areas with sensitive fauna below 1000 FT AGL. The areas with large flocks of birds and/or seals are depicted on chart ENR 6-5.3 and on aerodrome visual approach charts. In paragraph 3 all locations of these areas are listed by name, including the season and the minimum altitude to cross these areas.

2.3 Waddenzee
2.3.1 Minimum flight altitude

To protect the sensitive fauna in the Waddenzee, by Decree the following applies:

  • motorised civil flights below 1500 FT AGL are prohibited;
  • when ceiling < 1500 FT AGL or flight visibility < 8 KM, flights between 1000 FT AGL and 1500 FT AGL are allowed within the corridors depicted on chart ENR 6-5.3.

These altitude restrictions do not apply to:

  • that part of the flight necessary to depart from or land at an aerodrome, as well as the part necessary to follow a prescribed traffic pattern and/or departure or arrival procedure;
  • flights in an emergency situation;
  • helicopters encountering icing-conditions, and
  • the following special flights:
    • search and rescue as well as HEMS operations;
    • inspection flights or flights in pursuit;
    • pipeline control flights;
    • power lines control flights;
    • survey flights in the interest of public health, supervision or science;
    • flights for shooting films or taking photographs, in the interest of news provision and or public relations.
    the above-mentioned flights are only exempted if they are executed by companies/bodies or pilots formally authorized for these activities.
2.3.2 Application for permits

For flights below 1500 FT AGL in the Waddenzee area, two permits are required:

2.4 Zeeland Delta

In view of the protection of the sensitive fauna in the Zeeland Delta, flights above the following areas are prohibited below 1000 FT AGL:

  • Grevelingen;
  • Haringvliet;
  • Hollands Diep;
  • Oosterschelde;
  • Veerse Meer;
  • Westerschelde & Saeftinghe.

3 AREAS WITH SENSITIVE FAUNA

NRLocationSeasonRemarks
BirdsSeals
12345
S = summer: APR-SEP.
W = winter: OCT-MAR.
Y = year-round.
  1. Strongly advised not to cross below 1000 FT AGL.
1Abtskolk & De PuttenW-1)
2Alde FeanenY-1)
3ArkemheenW-1)
4BargerveenW-1)
5BiesboschY-1)
6Boezems KinderdijkS-1)
7De WiedenY-1)
8De WilckW-1)
9DeelenY-1)
10Deurnsche Peel & MariapeelW-1)
11Donkse LaagtenW-1)
12Duinen en Lage Land TexelSY1)
13Duinen Goeree & Kwade HoekWY1)
14Duinen TerschellingSY1)
15Duinen VlielandSY1)
16DwingelderveldW-1)
17Eemmeer & Gooimeer ZuidoeverY-1)
18EngbertsdijksvenenW-1)
19FochteloërveenW-1)
20GrevelingenYYProhibited to cross below 1000 FT AGL.
21Groote PeelW-1)
22Groote WielenW-1)
23HaringvlietY-Prohibited to cross below 1000 FT AGL.
24Hollands DiepY-Prohibited to cross below 1000 FT AGL.
25IJsselmeerY-1)
26Ilperveld, Varkensland, Oostzanerveld & TwiskeY-1)
27Kampina & Oisterwijkse VennenW-1)
28Ketelmeer & VossemeerW-1)
29Krammer-VolkerakY-1)
30LauwersmeerY-1)
31LeekstermeergebiedW-1)
32LepelaarplassenY-1)
33Markermeer & IJmeerY-1)
34MarkiezaatY-1)
35NaardermeerY-1)
36Nieuwkoopse Plassen & De HaeckY-1)
37NoordzeekustzoneSY1)
38Oostelijke VechtplassenY-1)
39OosterscheldeYYProhibited to cross below 1000 FT AGL.
40OostvaardersplassenY-1)
41Oudegaasterbrekken, Fluessen en omgevingW-1)
42Oudeland van StrijenW-1)
43Polder ZeevangW-1)
44RijntakkenY-1)
45SneekermeergebiedW-1)
46Uiterwaarden Zwarte Water en VechtW-1)
47Van Oordt's MerskenW-1)
48Veerse MeerY-Prohibited to cross below 1000 FT AGL.
49VeluwerandmerenW-1)
50Voordelta-Y1)
51Voornes DuinS-1)
52WaddenzeeYYProhibited to cross below 1500 FT AGL.
53WeerribbenS-1)
54Westerschelde & SaeftingheYYProhibited to cross below 1000 FT AGL.
55Witte en Zwarte BrekkenW-1)
56Yerseke en Kapelse MoerW-1)
57ZoommeerY-1)
58ZouweboezemS-1)
59ZuidlaardermeergebiedW-1)
60Zwarte MeerY-1)