Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Virginia Arlington Reagan National Airport Bird Cannon

Reagan National Airport Bird Cannon

The system of air guns are fired off remotely to scare any trespassing avians.

Arlington, Virginia

Added By
Elliot Carter
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Phil Kroll stands beside air cannon #9.   Sadie Dingfelder/Used With Permission
One of the bird cannons silhouetted against the water.   Map Data © Google 2017
No birds in sight.   Joseph Williams/CC BY 2.0
  wherearewedude / Atlas Obscura User
  wherearewedude / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Bird strikes are no laughing matter in the aviation industry, causing the occasional loss of life and a reported $1.2 billion in damage per year globally. The government’s response to the problem has had mixed results.

Following the 2009 “Miracle on the Hudson” event, the USDA has slaughtered 70,000 birds on or near runways. At Washington’s Reagan National Airport, officials opted for a more humane solution: an integrated network of air cannons and loudspeakers to scare off any trespassing avians.

The bird cannons are fired off once every 30 minutes during the peak spring and fall migration. An earlier incarnation of the air defense weapons were operated by hand, but now they’re connected electronically from a computer rig powered by Google Maps. “It’s just clicking a mouse. It’s like sending an email,” Operations Duty Manager Phil Kroll explained to the Washington Post. “But if you’re out on the airfield when someone else sets them off, it’s fun to see the birds scatter.”

Wildlife still pose a major problem at Reagan National, even with their newfangled artillery. There are several bird strikes at the airport every year. 2014 alone racked up three strikes that ranked as “substantial” in the FAA classification database. For the time being, officials will have to keep their eyes on the sky and their finger on the bird cannon button.

Related Tags

Weapons Birds Aviation Airports Airplanes Animals

Community Contributors

Added By

Elliot Carter

Edited By

wherearewedude

  • wherearewedude

Published

August 7, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2017/06/05/thats-my-job-firing-the-bird-cannons-at-reagan-national-airport/?utm_term=.6be50d3b138a
  • http://www.nbcwashington.com/traffic/transit/Bird-Strike-Forces-Emergency-Landing-Reagan-National-Airport-Startling-Neighbors-380859921.html
  • https://wildlife.faa.gov/database.aspx
Reagan National Airport Bird Cannon
Reagan National Airport
Arlington, Virginia
United States
38.84018, -77.034696
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Ronald Reagan National Airport's Historic Terminal A

Arlington, Virginia

miles away

George Washington Memorial Parkway

Arlington, Virginia

miles away

VIP Congressional Parking Lot at Reagan National Airport

Arlington, Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Arlington

Arlington

Virginia

Places 28
Stories 2

Nearby Places

Ronald Reagan National Airport's Historic Terminal A

Arlington, Virginia

miles away

George Washington Memorial Parkway

Arlington, Virginia

miles away

VIP Congressional Parking Lot at Reagan National Airport

Arlington, Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Arlington

Arlington

Virginia

Places 28
Stories 2

Related Places

  • The tower.

    Friskney, England

    RAF Wainfleet Control Tower

    The control tower at the historic weapons range is now available as a highly unusual vacation rental.

  • Aeroshell Aerobatic Team performing at EAA AirVenture 2007

    Oshkosh, Wisconsin

    EAA's AirVenture Oshkosh

    One of the largest aviation events in the world brings half a million aircraft enthusiasts to Wisconsin each year.

  • Anchorage, Alaska

    Neighborhood Airplane Hangars

    A suburban street in Anchorage doubles as a runway, and each home has its own airplane hangar.

  • Aircraft on display.

    College Park, Maryland

    College Park Airport and Aviation Museum

    The world's oldest continuously operating airport was founded by the Wright Brothers.

  • Marana, Arizona

    Pinal Airpark

    Commercial aircraft storage facility, where you can see a TWA 747.

  • The Lytham St. Annes Spitfire.

    Lytham, England

    Lytham St Annes Spitfire Memorial

    During World War II, locals rallied together to buy this plane to support the war effort.

  • The First Flight Monument hints at a darker time.

    Tokyo, Japan

    First Flight Monument

    A monument marking the first airplane flights in Japan hints at the dark history behind its peaceful park setting.

  • Ford TriMotor Plane

    Port Clinton, Ohio

    Liberty Aviation Museum

    Inside an airport, visitors can explore this museum where history takes flight.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.