Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a bird hitting a plane.
Well, not for much longer, if scientists are successful in introducing bird repelling grass around airports.
It's hoped the development will alleviate the multi-million dollar aviation problem of aircraft being struck by our feathered friends.
Scientists have created a new type of grass that can be laid around airports, which repels the insects that create perfect bird-feeding conditions.
Insects weaken or kill sown grasses leaving spaces for the establishment of weeds, which attract grain feeding birds.
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Tests at two airports in New Zealand show bird numbers fell by 70 per cent when the new grass was laid and there was less chance of feeding on insects, weeding seeds or eating grass.
"The newly developed bird deterring grass ... contains a natural fungus, an endophyte, that produces chemicals that deter insects," Dr Chris Pennell says.
"This reduces the attractiveness of the airport as a feed source."
Scientists say the fungi also leaves an unpleasant taste that deters both grass-eating birds like geese and rodents that attract larger predators such as hawks.
"We have data that suggests animals and birds learn to avoid these areas," Dr Pennell said.
Dr Pennell, from AgResearch Lincoln in New Zealand, presented the research findings this week at the 22nd International Grassland Congress in Sydney.
He said golf courses and sports fields plagued by geese and grazing birds were also taking an interest in the technology.
Trials of the grass are now underway in Melbourne.
