In article , gatt wrote:
I've determined that, as a rule, flying low to the ground is inherently
dangerous even if you're straight and level. Are bird strikes common and,
if so, what would a bird with a 6' wingspan do to a Cessna 152 or a Grumman
Tiger?

Bird strikes are fairly uncommon in GA planes because at the altitudes
you find the most birds, GA planes typically have slowed down quite a
bit. A bird can usually avoid anything going less than 90 knots - don't
forget they get lots of flying practise as they may fly most of the day.

I have spent quite a bit of time gaggle soaring my glider with seagulls.
I try to thermal in the same direction as the birds (and the Ka-8 goes
about the same speed) but occasionally a lone bird will join the thermal
the wrong way. I've had a few of these opposite direction birds get
close, but they are always pretty good at dodging.

Interestingly, they've just re-introduced the Great Bustard to its
former habitat in Wiltshire (it was hunted to extinction in the 18th
century). This bird is the heaviest flying bird in the world - weighing
up to 50lbs with a 7ft wingspan. I'd love to soar my glider with one,
but I'd hate to hit one!

--
Dylan Smith, Castletown, Isle of Man
Flying: http://www.dylansmith.net
Frontier Elite Universe: http://www.alioth.net
"Maintain thine airspeed, lest the ground come up and smite thee"