Airports Company South Africa and

Endangered Wildlife TrustPartnership

Minimise bird strikes and other interactions between wildlife and airport facilities at ACSA airports by applying integrated environmental

management techniques.

EWT Core

Species Community Biodiv.Industry

• Cranes

• Blue Swallows

• Carnivores

• Birds of Prey

• Ground Hornbills

• Marine

• Conservation Leadership

• Rural and Urban Ecowarriers

• Human-Wildlife Conflict (poisons)

• KZN Grasslands

• Biodiversity Stewardship

• WEIG – power

• AWWG -airports

Partnership approach

Conservation Organisation

Airport Authority

Aviation Industry Stakeholders

Airline Industry

OrnithologicalExpertise

Research institutions Universities

International & Regional

Organisations

StructuresBird and wildlife control falls under the Fire and

Rescue (F&R) department as a safety issue;

F&R are responsible for doing runway inspections

(FOD, lights are working, rubber build up etc.);

Firemen have permission to drive airside, operate

radio’s, and usually have the time.

FiremenWildlife Control Officers

WCO’s / dog handlers

Fire Chief / HOD Airside

Senior Wildlife Control Officers

Bird and Wildlife Control

Integrated Wildlife Management Plans

Data Collection and Statistics

Bird and Wildlife Committee Meetings

Scaring Techniques- Proactive- Reactive

Awareness and Advocacy

Techniques

Reactive• Bird Scaring patrols• Pyrotechnics• Sirens• Border Collies

Proactive• Habitat management• Grass management• Food sources• Open water• Infrastructure• Radar system

La Mercy Airport

Barn Swallow

bird hazard risk

assessment using

bird detection radar

Aviation safety concerns• For how long during the day and at what height above

the reeds do the swallow flock form?• How many swallows are there?• Would the swallows constitute a significant risk to the

safe operation of aircraft at the new airport?Environmental / Conservation concerns• What effect would over-flying aircraft have on the

swallows? Air turbulence etc.• Biodiversity impact – decline in swallow numbers…?

Barn Swallow roost vs.new Airport

Important EIA ROD issuesSouth African Department of Environmental affairs granted a positive Record of Decision for the airport project to go ahead – but listed some conditions:

Specialist study concluded that the impact on swallows will be low and that the swallows would not pose a significant risk to aircraft.Airport operation must include a bird detection radar to monitor bird and swallow movement

Radar Swallow Monitoring Study

Bird Radar Specialist Study objectives:

Swallow flock altitudes

Swallow flock distribution above reed bed

Swallow flock densities (estimate)

Ways to mitigate the risk

Merlin Bird Detection Radar

An estimated 2-3 million swallows use the roost site for 6 months of the yearFlocking behaviour above the reeds during the late afternoon and early morning

Barn Swallow roost vs.new airport

226 mRunway

2,600 m 90 m

Flocking behavior of the Barn Swallowsand potential effects

Horizontal Radar -

Dispersal

Vertical Radar - Dispersal

Base map

Morning dispersal

Barn Swallow flocking behavior

FindingsSwallow flocks do not form every dayMost swarms are below 150 metersMaximum swarm height at 270 metersMorning departures are at highest altitudes

Aircraft over-flights not likely to affect the swallows

Evening Arrival (Swarm) Altitudes

R2 = 0.0077

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Date

2/14

2/16

2/18

2/20

2/22

2/24

2/26

2/28 3/

23/

4

Max Evening AGL (meter)

Linear (Max Evening AGL (meter))

Barn Swallow flocking behavior

Evening Arrival Altitudes – Max Swarm Height

Barn Swallow Radar FindingsOperational Risk ~ Probability of occurrence

Swallows and Aircraft are separated in time for half of the year (seasonal)Swallows and aircraft are separated in time during most of the summer day/night (only sunrise and sunset are potential conflict…. or 1.5 hours a day) When birds and aircraft have temporal overlap the times are predictable and relatively short in duration

Bird Detection radar provides additional and more accurate information to improve aviation safety at the airport

The way forwardProcurement and implementation of a bird detection radar at the airport• Development of an early warning swallow bird strike risk

detection model• Integration of bird detection radar information into the

operational plan and procedures of the airport• Wetland/catchment management plan• Bird surveys on and around airport• Development of an integrated airport bird hazard

management programme

Re-active MethodsWildlife Control Officer• Bird Scaring Patrols

• Border Collie Bird Scaring program

• ATC communication

• Lethal bird removal (last resort!)

Fire and Rescue Services• Bird Scaring patrols

• Sirens, pyrotechnics, etc.

Integrated Wildlife Management Plan

Operational Assessment

• How many ATM’s, what type, time of day etc.

• Legislation

Ecological Assessment

• Wildlife species profile

• Habitat assessment

Data Collection and Analysis

• Monitor bird presence and abundance

• Bird & Wildlife strike reporting system

GIS-based reporting system• Speeds up process of data capture

• Allows for more data to be captured andanalysed

• User-friendly

• Different modules – count, patrol, grass

Bird and Wildlife CommitteeMonthly Meetings / Quarterly meetingsRepresentation• ACSA (Wildlife Control Officer; Fire and Rescue;

Maintenance; Environmental safety)• Airlines• ALPA• ATNS• Bird Club• ACSA – EWT Partnership• External Stakeholders

Research and Development

Thank you!

Claire Patterson-AbrolatAirport Wildlife Working GroupEndangered Wildlife TrustMobile: +27 (0)83 235 2553Tel: +27 (0)11 486 1102Fax: +27 (0)11 486-1506claire@ewt.org.zawww.ewt.org.za