Bowling Green Continues Bird Abatement Program

The city works with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife to move flocks away from busy areas near the airport.

Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Bird Watching

Bowling Green Continues Bird Abatement Program

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The City of Bowling Green is continuing its bird abatement program to control bird populations in highly trafficked areas. Professionals use air cannons and lasers to frighten birds to other locations, working with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Why it matters

Flocks of birds disrupt airspace and create dangerous flying conditions for pilots at Bowling Green Regional Airport, and birds have formed roosts near the airport that have raised safety concerns. The program aims to clear birds from a dangerous area rather than respond to an emergency.

Flocks of hundreds to thousands of birds form during colder months, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife is focusing on Scottsville Road and Gary Farms Boulevard. The source does not state how long the effort will continue.

The players

Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife

The state agency responsible for wildlife management in Kentucky, which carries out the bird-dispersal work alongside the city.

The details

Professionals use multiple air cannons and lasers, which produce loud booms that can sound like explosions or gunshots, to frighten birds away from the focus area. The Department of Fish and Wildlife is concentrating on Scottsville Road and Gary Farms Boulevard, an area that includes Dick's Sporting Goods, PetSmart and Firehouse Subs.

During the colder months, when bird flocks form and roost together, creating pilot danger near the airport.

Local Impact

The program extends the Bowling Green Regional Airport's ongoing effort to keep bird flocks away from aircraft operations. Its focus on Scottsville Road and Gary Farms Boulevard reflects where roosting birds have settled near the airfield.

Residents near Scottsville Road and Gary Farms Boulevard may hear loud booms from air cannons during bird-dispersal work. Drivers and visitors to the airport area should expect the program to continue while flocks form in the colder months.

The takeaway

Bird flocks that gather near airports during colder months can pose real risks to pilots, and coordinated dispersal work is how local agencies keep those areas clear. Residents can expect occasional loud noises as the effort continues.