'No Real Hazard From Birds'

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31090, 20 June 1966, Page 14

'No Real Hazard From Birds'

“I don’t think there has been any real hazard to aircraft from seagulls on Christchurch Airport for some time,” said the airport manager (Mr A. I. R. Jamieson) last evening.

Mr Jamieson was commenting on a warning to pilots from the Department of Civil Aviation, about the presence of flocks of seagulls near certain airports. Christchurch airport was described as one “where seagulls create a hazard to aircraft.” "There are still periodic incidents with seagulls—periodic incidents in that groups of seagulls from time to time gather on the airport,” Mr Jamieson said. “The maintenance staff seems to disperse them all right.” The situation had improved considerably over the last two years. Detailed studies had been made and preventive measures taken; "We have eliminated factors which encourage the birds to gather—food and scraps, and tips,” he said. On the advice of Dr. B. Stonehouse, of the University of Canterbury zoology department, grass at the airport was kept at a greater length, to make the area less compatible for the birds. “It is unlikely that the situation will ever arise where we have no seagulls,” Mr Jamieson said.

The problem, however, was continuously under surveillance. “By general housekeeping we can make the build-

up of seagulls not very common, and can disperse them without any hazard.” The warning from the Department of Civil Aviation was made by the director of operations and technical services (Mr L. F. P. Taylor). "At Gisborne and Tauranga, birds are attracted by food at nearby rubbish tips which they circle, at times settling on the aerodrome surface,” he said.

“Pilots appoaching to land at either airport are advised to view the aerodrome surface and approach path before landing,” said Mr Taylor. “A warning is. also given regarding Napier and Christchurch airports, where seagulls create a hazard to aircraft,” Mr Taylor said.