Launch of Border Collie Project

Durban International Airport - Press Release – 23 April 2002

Introduction:

Bird Strikes pose a serious hazard to aircraft and collisions with birds although only occurring very occasionally can have serious consequences. It is estimated that bird strikes with aircraft cost the international aviation industry in excess of $1.5 billion per annum. At Durban International Airport the bird strike risk is regarded as an aviation safety priority and in this spirit the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) in collaboration with its strategic partner, the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) has embarked on an exciting project to implement a Border Collie bird scaring programme on the airfield. This unique project, the first of its kind on the African continent will be launched on the 23^rd April 2002 at Durban International Airport.

The Partnership:

The ACSA - EWT partnership has been in existence since 1999 and during the past 3½ years have managed to improve the awareness and safety at Durban International Airport where a dedicated unit has been established to manage wildlife and wildlife hazards. The partnership also enjoys the support from local airlines, SAA, SA Express, SA Airlink and BA Comair, who sponsor the air travel requirements of the programme. The partnership strives to reduce bird strikes at ACSA managed airports by implementing integrated environmental management techniques.

Background:

Airfield wildlife hazard management is either pro-active or re-active. Pro-active methods include primarily habitat management techniques where the airfield environment is managed in such a way as to make it as unattractive as possible for hazardous bird species – significant progress has already been made in this regard by the EWT in collaboration with Birdlife Port Natal and the Durban Natural Science Museum. Reactive measures include bird scaring tactics. The use of Border Collie dogs on airfields to scare birds is a new and exciting initiative pioneered in the United States of America. The birds perceive the dog as a natural predator and soon learn that the area is frequented and patrolled by the Border Collie and subsequently seek safer foraging areas. The use of Border Collies can therefore be classified as being both re-active as well as proactive in addressing bird presence on the airfield. Border Collies are obsessive workers and take pleasure in a hard-days work. They are also very intelligent animals and can be trained to very strict levels of obedience which is a prerequisite for the error free airfield environment.

Local Dogs:

During May 2001 demonstrations were held at Durban International Airport regarding the use of Border Collies on airfields to scare birds away by a visiting international expert from the USA. Following on from these demonstrations, ACSA in collaboration with the EWT has opted to make use of locally trained Border Collies trained by expert sheep dog handlers, Mr & Mrs Philip from Caledon in the Western Cape. The advantage of using locally bred dogs and local training expertise was motivated by the fact that we would be developing local expertise in training Border Collies to scare birds and it also resulted in a significant cost saving.

The Border Collie training programme:

Two 1½ year old Border Collies (Mac & Tweeny) were selected by the trainers and have been exposed to an extensive eight month training programme on farmlands around Caledon in the Overberg and on Erinvale Golf Course in
Somerset West. Aircraft and airfield sensitisation was done at Cape Town International Airport. Both dogs are performing well and although only one is earmarked for final implementation at Durban International Airport, both will be used during the initial implementation period to select the dog best suited for conditions at Durban. The second dog will in all likelihood start work in a similar programme at Johannesburg International Airport in the near future.

Infrastructure and Operation at Durban International Airport:

A kennel facility has been specially constructed for the Border Collie at Durban International Airport as the dog will be kept on the airport at all times. To ensure that the dog performs at its peak it is fed only the best as Eukanuba is kindly sponsoring the Border Collie’s food. A wildlife control officer / dog handler has been appointed at the airport and will be responsible to look after the dog and will be scaring birds off the airfield with the Border Collie. The Border Collie will be strictly controlled at all times and most of the operations will take place on the outer sections of the airfield when there are no aircraft movements or in between landings and take-offs.

Current Activities:

Leading up to the implementation programme ACSA Durban International Airport have already sent their wildlife control officer for extensive training on handling the Border Collie on the trainer’s farm in Caledon. This has ensured that the Border Collie will already be accustomed to its new handler upon arrival at Durban International Airport. A quad bike / all terrain vehicle will be used as the primary means of transport by the wildlife control officer. The Border Collie has been trained to sit on a special platform that has been fitted at the back of the bike from where the dog will be commanded and released to chase the birds away.

Conclusion:

ACSA Durban International Airport is proud to be the first Airport in Africa and the Southern Hemisphere to start using Border Collies as part of their bird control programme. The project forms part of the ACSA / EWT partnership and the EWT is excited about the anticipated positive effect of the Border Collie programme as yet another innovative environmentally sensitive approach to scare birds and at the same time improve aviation safety.

Prepared by:

Albert Froneman
Project Manager ACSA / EWT Strategic Partnership
Airport Wildlife Hazard Management Project
Endangered Wildlife Trust

Mobile: 082 901 4016
Telephone: 011 486 1102
Facsimile: 011 486 1506
E-Mail: acsabirds@ewt.org.za
albertf@airports.co.za

Colin Naidoo
Communications
Durban International Airport

Mobile: 082 820 2744
Telephone: 031 451 6609
Facsimile: 031 451 6672
E-Mail: colin@airports.co.za