The database identifies the number of strikes per state and includes what species is believed to have been hit. It’s not all birds either – there have been reports of coyotes, foxes and even alligators being hit.

Bird strikes often occur during an airplane’s takeoff or landing, or when it is flying at low altitudes. Fatalities are quite low, at an estimated 1 fatal accident in one billion flying hours. However, bird strikes can cause a great amount of damage to the aircraft. Annual damages caused by bird strikes are estimated to be about $400 million in the United States alone, and about $1.2 billion worldwide to commercial aircraft.

The FAA had planned on enacting measures to protect the data, but rescinded, saying that it can release the data without jeopardizing aviation safety.