Despite recommendations, FAA still not budging on mandatory bird strike reports

"Last month the FAA announced a revised plan to lower the risk of bird strikes to aircraft through research and wildlife management. This strategy relies on database analysis and predictive models, yet fails to make reporting bird strikes mandatory – a move some experts say will hinder the effectiveness of the program....The FAA’s decision to not make bird strike reporting mandatory goes against recommendations by the National Transportation Safety Board dating back to 1999....[T]he FAA drew criticism from experts and lawmakers in 2009 when it proposed a federal law to make its national bird strike database off-limits to the public....Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood chucked the FAA’s proposal and said the public had a right to the information...."