DURING A DEP TURN AT LOW ALT; AN MD80 FLC DECLARES AN EMER AFTER LOUD IMPACT HEARD AND SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER. FEARING A COLLISION OF SOME SORT; THEY ELECT TO GO BACK TO STL.

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SHORTLY AFTER TKOF; WHILE TURNING TO ASSIGNED HDG; A VERY LOUD IMPACT WAS FELT AND HEARD THROUGHOUT THE COCKPIT AND CABIN. COLLISION WITH A LIGHT ACFT OR EXPLOSION OF A NOSE TIRE IN THE WHEEL WELL WERE SUSPECTED. A FAINT ODOR OF OZONE OR BURNT RUBBER HEIGHTENED THE DECISION TO DECLARE AN EMER AND RETURN TO STL; THE ARPT OF DEP. EMER ARPT VEHICLES DEPLOYED; BUT THE ACFT LANDED SAFELY. AIRLINE MAINT INSPECTION REVEALED 7 BIRD STRIKES WITH SERIOUS IMPACT DAMAGE TO RADOME; BOTH WINGS; AND THE #2 ENG NACELLE. BIRD REMAINS WERE FOUND IN BOTH ENGS; ALTHOUGH NO SIGNS OF ENG FAILURE WERE EVIDENT AT ANY TIME. THE BIRD REMAINS APPEARED TO BE FROM SEA GULLS. BIRD ADVISORIES WERE IN EFFECT ON ARPT ATIS; BUT OF NO HELP AT NIGHTTIME. TECHNOLOGY TO DETECT AND PROVIDE SEPARATION FROM FLOCKS SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY REAL SOLUTION. BOTH THE FO AND I ARE CONVINCED THAT ONLY LUCK PREVENTED US FROM LOSING BOTH ENGS WITH NO REALISTIC CHANCE FOR RETURNING TO STL. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 362537: I FLEW WHILE CAPT MANAGED PROB; LOOKED FOR APPROPRIATE CHKLIST; AND CONFERRED WITH MAINT; REQUESTED CFR TRUCKS. BOTH WINGS HAD HOLES APPROX 6-8 INCHES ACROSS; 4 INCHES WIDE. R-HAND COWLING AT 6 O'CLOCK POS DENTED IN 3 INCHES BY 8 INCHES. BIRD STILL IN BOTTOM OF COWLING.