A BIRDTAM is a specific type of NOTAM that informs pilots about the risk of bird strikes, especially in low-level airspace. Although it’s not an official ICAO term like ASHTAM or SNOWTAM, BIRDTAM is recognized within the European Aeronautical Information System Database (EAD) and has its own Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network (AFTN) address.
The BIRDTAM message follows a NATO standard, originally developed by military services to communicate bird strike risks. Its coverage area is mainly limited to Northern Europe. BIRDTAMs are based on observed bird activity, which can come from human sightings or radar analysis, as well as predictions of bird movements. Locations affected are identified using a two-letter grid reference that corresponds to a one-degree by one-degree area.
A typical BIRDTAM includes several key details: the originator’s sequence number, effective time (noted in Coordinated Universal Time, UTC), expiration time (also in UTC), intensity level, affected area, low altitude, and high altitude. The intensity level is rated on a scale from 0 to 8, with only values of 5 or higher being reported. Here’s how the levels break down:
-
5: Fairly Great
-
6: Great
-
7: Very Great
-
8: Extremely Great
For example, a BIRDTAM issued by the German Bundeswehr Geoinformation Office might look like this:
BIRDTAM NUMBER: 0280
EFFECTIVE TIME: 10 MAR 16:16
EXPIRATION TIME: 10 MAR 20:30
INTENSITY LEVEL: 5
AFFECTED AREA: MC
LOW ALTITUDE: SFC
HIGH ALTITUDE: 6000
You can find the latest BIRDTAM information from the German Bundeswehr Geoinformation Office, which is approved by the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), on the FAA NOTAM website. This site features a graphic that displays both the coverage area and the grid identification system, highlighting regions currently affected by active BIRDTAMs.