ENR 5.6 BIRD MIGRATION AND AREAS WITH SENSITIVE FAUNA

1 Bird Migration

1.1 There are no well defined heavily used bird migratory routes within United Kingdom airspace at any time of the year. Bird migration to and from the United Kingdom occurs largely in the autumn and winter on broad fronts in streams running E–W and N–S. The density of bird movements is greatest in SE England where these two fronts cross. Most migrating birds fly below 5000 FT.

2 Areas with Sensitive Fauna

2.1 As elsewhere in the world, offshore islands, headlands, cliffs, inland waters and shallow estuaries attract flocks of birds for breeding, roosting and feeding at various times of the year. Within 20 NM or so of such locations concentrations of birds flying mostly below 1500 FT may be encountered (see ENR 6.78 and ENR 6.79).

2.2 In order to lessen the risk of bird strikes, pilots of low flying aircraft should, whenever possible, avoid flying at less than 1500 FT above surface level over areas where birds are likely to concentrate. Where it is necessary to fly lower than this, pilots should bear in mind that the risk of a bird strike increases with speed (it is a fact that birds rarely hit an object moving slower than 80 knots). Apart from endangering aircraft by flying close to bird colonies, the breeding of the birds may be upset and the practice should be avoided on conservation grounds. It should also be appreciated that, especially in the case of sea bird colonies, concentrations of birds may be soaring on lee waves downwind of the areas where they breed.

3 Bird Sanctuaries

3.1 A Bird Sanctuary is airspace of defined dimensions within which large colonies of birds are known to breed.

3.2 Pilots are specifically requested to avoid the Bird Sanctuaries listed below, especially during any stated breeding season.

Identification and Name Lateral Limits	Upper Limit (FT) Lower Limit (FT)	Remarks
1	2	3
Isle of May A circle 1 NM radius centred on 561109N 0023327W.	2000 FT ALT SFC	Pilots are requested to avoid the area throughout the year. Peak activity April to September.
Martin Mere A circle 1 NM radius centred on 533726N 0025242W.	2000 FT ALT SFC	Pilots are requested to avoid the area throughout the year. Peak activity September to March.
Hilbre Islands A circle 1 NM radius centred on 532239N 0031255W.	500 FT ALT SFC	Pilots are requested to avoid the area throughout the year.
Gibraltar Point A circle 1.5 NM radius centred on 530616N 0001949E.	2000 FT ALT SFC	Pilots are requested to avoid the area throughout the year.
Estuary area north-east of Brancaster A circle 1 NM radius centred on 525910N 0004041E.	500 FT ALT SFC	Pilots are requested to avoid the area throughout the year.
Coast north of Holkham A circle 1 NM radius centred on 525832N 0004950E.	500 FT ALT SFC	Pilots are requested to avoid the area throughout the year.
Coast north of Holme-next-the-Sea A circle 1 NM radius centred on 525832N 0003207E.	500 FT ALT SFC	Pilots are requested to avoid the area throughout the year.
Blakeney Point A circle 1 NM radius centred on 525813N 0005851E.	500 FT ALT SFC	Pilots are requested to avoid the area throughout the year.
Lakenheath Fen A circle 1.5 NM radius centred on 522657N 0003100E.	3000 FT ALT SFC	Pilots are requested to avoid the area from May to July and October to February.
Minsmere A circle 1 NM radius centred on 521445N 0013701E.	2000 FT ALT SFC	Pilots are requested to avoid the area throughout the year.
Havergate A circle 1 NM radius centred on 520423N 0013113E.	2000 FT ALT SFC	Pilots are requested to avoid the area throughout the year.
Otmoor A circle 1 NM radius centred on 514918N 0011038W.	2000 FT ALT SFC	Pilots are requested to avoid the area throughout the year.
Severn A circle 3 NM radius centred on 514429N 0022405W.	4000 FT ALT SFC	Pilots are requested to avoid the area throughout the year.
Langstone Harbour A circle 1.75 NM radius centred on 504857N 0010053W.	500 FT ALT SFC	Pilots are requested to avoid the area throughout the year.
Pagham Harbour A circle 1 NM radius centred on 504548N 0004538W.	500 FT ALT SFC	Pilots are requested to avoid the area throughout the year.
Chesil North Area bounded by straight lines joining successively the following points: 503956N 0023635W - 503743N 0023212W - 503658N 0023313W - 503911N 0023737W - 503956N 0023635W.	500 FT ALT SFC	Pilots are requested to avoid the area throughout the year.
Spurn Peninsula, Humber Estuary Area bounded by straight lines joining successively the following points: 533634N 0000410E - 533840N 0000759E - 533559N 0000921E - 533356N 0000621E - 533634N 0000410E.	500 FT ALT SFC	Pilots are requested to avoid the area throughout the year.
Cleethorpes, Humber Estuary Area bounded by straight lines joining successively the following points: 533346N 0000146W - 533432N 0000010W - 533106N 0000415E - 533015N 0000231E - 533346N 0000146W.	500 FT ALT SFC	Pilots are requested to avoid the area throughout the year.
Bridgwater Bay, Stert FlatsArea bounded by straight lines joining successively the following points:511320N 0030608W - 511434N 0030205W - 511411N 0025953W - 511112N 0030108W - 511112N 0030523W - 511320N 0030608W.	1500 FT ALTSFC	Pilots are requested to avoid the area throughout the year.

4 Release of Racing Pigeons

4.1 In agreement with the Royal Pigeon Racing Association concerning the release of large numbers of racing pigeons:

There will be no release of racing pigeons within a radius of 7 NM from the following airports:

Aberdeen Dyce	Humberside	Manchester †
Belfast Aldergrove	Inverness	Newcastle
Birmingham	Kirkwall	Norwich
Bournemouth	Leeds Bradford	Prestwick
Bristol	Liverpool	Southampton
Cardiff	London Gatwick	Southend
East Midlands	London Heathrow	Sumburgh
Edinburgh	London Luton	Teesside International
Glasgow	London Stansted

† See AD Section for further information

For other aerodromes in the United Kingdom all liberations shall be notified to the SATCO in writing fourteen days prior to the date of release and additionally by telephone 30 minutes before release time. On receipt of the 30 minute warning the SATCO or senior controller on duty may delay the liberation by up to 30 minutes for air traffic control purposes. Exceptionally, the liberation time may be delayed for a longer period.