Narrative:

Early morning takeoff from pie. As we lined up for takeoff on runway 17L, I noticed some small dark-colored birds near the runway threshold and once lined up, saw seagulls lifting off approximately 1000 ft down the runway as power was increased. Beyond 80 KTS and nearing midfield, I observed other seagulls that, though airborne, were loitering approximately 10 ft above the runway, flying left and right of centerline. We struck at least 1 near the radome while other gulls darted out of the way. As engine parameters and instrument indications appeared normal, we continued the takeoff and advised ATC and local maintenance. Though I had time to consider a high speed reject and the fear it would (no doubt) instill in the passenger, I'm not sure (now) that their comfort was worth my anxiety that followed. I had a hunch this was possible (this 'event') when the small birds hung around the taxiway as we taxied in rather close proximity to them. At that point, I should have had the airport personnel come out and attempt to scare them away, knowing (instinctively, I guess) that more birds were certain to be in the area.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737 CAPT CONTINUES HIS TKOF AND FLT TO DEST AFTER SUFFERING A BIRD STRIKE ON THE TKOF ROLL AT PIE, FL.

Narrative: EARLY MORNING TKOF FROM PIE. AS WE LINED UP FOR TKOF ON RWY 17L, I NOTICED SOME SMALL DARK-COLORED BIRDS NEAR THE RWY THRESHOLD AND ONCE LINED UP, SAW SEAGULLS LIFTING OFF APPROX 1000 FT DOWN THE RWY AS PWR WAS INCREASED. BEYOND 80 KTS AND NEARING MIDFIELD, I OBSERVED OTHER SEAGULLS THAT, THOUGH AIRBORNE, WERE LOITERING APPROX 10 FT ABOVE THE RWY, FLYING L AND R OF CTRLINE. WE STRUCK AT LEAST 1 NEAR THE RADOME WHILE OTHER GULLS DARTED OUT OF THE WAY. AS ENG PARAMETERS AND INST INDICATIONS APPEARED NORMAL, WE CONTINUED THE TKOF AND ADVISED ATC AND LCL MAINT. THOUGH I HAD TIME TO CONSIDER A HIGH SPD REJECT AND THE FEAR IT WOULD (NO DOUBT) INSTILL IN THE PAX, I'M NOT SURE (NOW) THAT THEIR COMFORT WAS WORTH MY ANXIETY THAT FOLLOWED. I HAD A HUNCH THIS WAS POSSIBLE (THIS 'EVENT') WHEN THE SMALL BIRDS HUNG AROUND THE TXWY AS WE TAXIED IN RATHER CLOSE PROX TO THEM. AT THAT POINT, I SHOULD HAVE HAD THE ARPT PERSONNEL COME OUT AND ATTEMPT TO SCARE THEM AWAY, KNOWING (INSTINCTIVELY, I GUESS) THAT MORE BIRDS WERE CERTAIN TO BE IN THE AREA.

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.