AN AIR TOUR HELI WAS STRUCK BY A BIRD IN AN AREA KNOWN FOR BIRD ACTIVITY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES; BUT DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD RESULTED. THE FLT WAS CONTINUED BACK TO THE BASE BELOW THE MINIMUM ALT SPECIFIED IN SFAR 71 TO AVOID BIRD ACTIVITY AND OTHER ACFT.

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THIS BIRD STRIKE OCCURRED IN AN AREA KNOWN FOR BIRD ACTIVITY; THE NAPALI COAST; ISLAND OF KAUAI; HI. THIS AREA IS A PRIMARY SIGHT-SEEING AREA FOR TOURISTS WHO VIEW THE NAPALI BY AIR; SEA; AND HIKING TRAILS. THE BIRDS WHO INHABIT THE NAPALI ARE HIGH FLYING BIRDS FOUND AT ALTS ABOVE 1000 FT AGL. SINCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SFAR 71; HELI FLTS ARE FORCED INTO AIRSPACE OCCUPIED BY NOT ONLY OTHER ACFT; BUT THE MAJORITY OF BIRD LIFE WHICH INHABITS THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. PRIOR TO SFAR 71; PLTS COULD SELECT ALTS WHICH BEST MINIMIZED OR ELIMINATED POTENTIAL CONFLICTS WITH OTHER ACFT; WILDLIFE; AND PREVAILING WX. THE SFAR 71; AS WRITTEN; DOES NOT ADEQUATELY CONSIDER FACTORS RELEVANT TO PLT AND PAX SAFETY. THE BIRD STRUCK THE NOSE OF THE HELI AND DEFLECTED INTO THE FRONT WINDSHIELD; PAX SIDE BREAKING OUT AN AREA OF PLEXIGLASS OF APPROX 8 INCHES BY 12 INCHES. THE GLASS ENTERED THE COCKPIT AND CABIN BUT DID NOT INFLICT ANY INJURY OR FURTHER DAMAGE. THE ACFT SUSTAINED NO DAMAGE OTHER THAN THE WINDSHIELD; AND THE FLT WAS CONTINUED TO BASE FOR REPAIRS. THE FINAL LEG OF THE FLT WAS CONDUCTED BELOW 1000 FT AGL TO AVOID FURTHER CONFLICT WITH BIRDS AND OTHER AIR TOUR ACFT.