Bird activity noted and bird strike occurred during takeoff.

Attributes
ACN	263338
Time
Date	199402
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mlu
State Reference	LA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lga
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 2200
ASRS Report	263338
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground critical inflight encounter other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

During takeoff on runway 22 at mlu, we observed several small birds and one large bird (a blue heron) in the vicinity of the runway. At 110 KIAS, just prior to rotation the blue heron passed the cockpit on the left side of the aircraft, we then heard a 'thump' which led us to believe that we had hit the bird. The bird was high (above the engine inlet) and I did not see the bird actually strike the wing, spinner, or engine inlet area as it went by. Since all engine instruments 'were in the green' and there was not any obvious damage, I elected to continue to takeoff. We were just below our V1 speed of 119 KIAS. I notified ATC and they found the blue heron on the runway. We continued on to our destination where maintenance inspected the aircraft and they found no damage. In fact, they could not even find any indication of a bird strike. I saw no need for a high speed aborted takeoff, however, I later wondered if the FAA might consider my judgement to be poor in continuing a flight in an aircraft that could have been damaged or considered unairworthy.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BIRD ACTIVITY NOTED AND BIRD STRIKE OCCURRED DURING TKOF.

Narrative: DURING TKOF ON RWY 22 AT MLU, WE OBSERVED SEVERAL SMALL BIRDS AND ONE LARGE BIRD (A BLUE HERON) IN THE VICINITY OF THE RWY. AT 110 KIAS, JUST PRIOR TO ROTATION THE BLUE HERON PASSED THE COCKPIT ON THE L SIDE OF THE ACFT, WE THEN HEARD A 'THUMP' WHICH LED US TO BELIEVE THAT WE HAD HIT THE BIRD. THE BIRD WAS HIGH (ABOVE THE ENG INLET) AND I DID NOT SEE THE BIRD ACTUALLY STRIKE THE WING, SPINNER, OR ENG INLET AREA AS IT WENT BY. SINCE ALL ENG INSTS 'WERE IN THE GREEN' AND THERE WAS NOT ANY OBVIOUS DAMAGE, I ELECTED TO CONTINUE TO TKOF. WE WERE JUST BELOW OUR V1 SPD OF 119 KIAS. I NOTIFIED ATC AND THEY FOUND THE BLUE HERON ON THE RWY. WE CONTINUED ON TO OUR DEST WHERE MAINT INSPECTED THE ACFT AND THEY FOUND NO DAMAGE. IN FACT, THEY COULD NOT EVEN FIND ANY INDICATION OF A BIRD STRIKE. I SAW NO NEED FOR A HIGH SPD ABORTED TKOF, HOWEVER, I LATER WONDERED IF THE FAA MIGHT CONSIDER MY JUDGEMENT TO BE POOR IN CONTINUING A FLT IN AN ACFT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DAMAGED OR CONSIDERED UNAIRWORTHY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.