Bird-scaring star dies

Press, 21 May 1987, Page 7

Bird-scaring star dies

PA Wellington Major, the falcon being trained as the nemesis of seagulls at Wellington Airport, has died suddenly of a brain haemorrhage. The falcon was one of seven being trained in the Wairarapa by a Wildlife Service expert, Mr Rob Wheeldon, to help counter the threat of birdstrike at Wellington Airport by driving off or killing the blackbacked gulls that congregate at the adjacent

sewage outlet. The falcon, aged six months, was the star of the falcon team and its prowess in early training was unveiled in March in a stunning demonstration of a winged attack. But on Saturday things started to go wrong for the falcon, known throughout New Zealand for its role in a striking television advertisement. The senior conservation officer at the Mount

Bruce reserve, Mr lan Bryant, said Major had been brought to Wellington by Mr Wheeldon who was giving a lecture on falconing. The bird failed to respond to commands. The next day it was unable to keep its balance and eventually died. Major’s death has slowed the bird-scaring project but the remaining team is still expected to be ready for duty towards the end of the year.