5

With increased frequency of take-offs and landings and increasingly fast aircraft, birds have become too slow to duck oncoming planes. In America alone, accidents involving collisions with birds cause around US$ 100m in damage to airlines each year. For this reason airports around the world have resorted to various methods to disperse them in a bid to clear take-off and landing paths. Despite switching to more technologically-advanced methods in recent years, Aerodrom Ljubljana, the company running Ljubljana's international airport, had decided to return to the use of falcons in recent days. The company signed recently a deal with the Slovenian Falconry Association on the use of falcons for clearing airspace around the airport. According to Roman Savic of the association, the falcons have adapted quickly to their working environment. The airport is a suitable environment, as they have the necessary food, water and space for rest, Savic told. Although the airport at Brnik has a relatively small problem with birds compared with other airports, particularly those located close to sea, an increase in the numbers of certain species has been noted in recent times, including crows, grey herons, seagulls and hawks. Experts point out that bird populations are growing due to more favourable weather conditions, cuts in the use of pesticides and bans on hunting. Through time most of the birds have become accustomed to life in a noisy environment, which has rendered the use of sound irritants an ineffective deterrent. The use of trained falcons is a natural and environmentally-friendly way of keeping birds away from airports. Its main advantage is that it simulates the natural habitat, where birds are kept away from areas by the presence of predators. As opposed to the use of hunting, the use of falcons results in much fewer deaths of birds who stray into the area of the airport. A falcon is successful in about one in four hunts. Nearly 50 falcon-keepers with 200 trained birds patrol the area around the airport every one or two days. The busiest time is in the spring and autumn - when bird populations are migrating - as well as during rainy days, when hundreds of birds can invade the airport in search of worms. The Brnik airport had first resorted to falcons to keep its airspace clear of birds ten years ago. Due to a shortage of trained falcons, the method was replaced by other means three years ago, but is now being reintroduced because of its success. Falcons have proved apt at keeping away most bird species, including crows, seagulls, herons, pigeons and lapwings. As they are unable to deal with other birds of prey, foremost hawks, the airport usually resorts to hunting to solve this problem. Savic said that airport safety is just one way falconry can make an important environmentally-friendly contribution to dealing with socio-environmental issues of today.