Man Arrested For Feeding Birds Near Bob Hope Airport

A Burbank man repeatedly warned about feeding pigeons near Bob Hope Airport could face charges for violating a court order against it.

Charles Douglas, 59, was arrested at his job in the 3000 block of North Hollywood Way, near Tulare Avenue, about 10 a.m. Friday on suspicion of violating a court order, according to Burbank police Officer Joshua Kendrick.

"Douglas had continued to disperse bird seed in an alley and in parking areas near the Bob Hope Airport despite repeated warnings and citation," Kendrick said.

Police said Douglas, a business owner, had been cited and warned since September.

Birds that get sucked into jet engines can cause catastrophic damage to the turbines.

"It is very important to address situations like this, as there has been a significant increase in incidents of these air strikes in the last few months," Victor Gill of the airport said.

Southwest Airlines reported several bird strikes at Bob Hope Airport recently, and one recent departing flight that struck birds abruptly landed at Ontario Airport, Kendrick said.

Douglas was booked for public nuisance, violation of a court order and feeding of pigeons so as to create a public nuisance.

On Jan. 15, 2009, it was a bird strike that disabled both engines of an Airbus A320 and caused U.S. Airways pilot Chelsey "Sully" Sullenberger to successfully ditch the airliner on the Hudson River in New York City, with no serious injuries to the 155 people aboard.

-- City News Service