Bird and Aviation, Vol. 23, (2003), No.
Bird Control at German Airports
C. MORGENROTH, Morbach
Summary: The term “bird control“ is not used consis-
tently, neither on international nor on national level. The
lowest common denominator is probably the fact that bird
control denotes an activity or service aiming at the pre-
vention of bird strikes at airports and airfields. In order to
produce clarity with respect to the extent and content of
the term and thus to prevent misunderstandings, this con-
tribution provides a definition by describing and shedding
some critical light on the current situation regarding bird
control at German airports. Recommendations on equip-
ment and on the choice of suitable staff complement the
contribution.
1. The Tasks of Bird Control
The German Airports Association’s recommendations on
the activity of bird-strike officers at airports from 7 May
1986 comprise the following statement on bird control (II.
Bird Control): “It is recommended that suitable airport
services be charged with routine bird control. Apart from
conducting routine patrols of the airport territory, [...], the
Bird Control is to act upon the order of the bird-strike
officer and the Air Traffic Control.“ Thus, these recom-
mendations make clear that bird-strike officer and Bird
Control are not identical. While the bird-strike officer –
according to the German Federal Transport Minister’s
Guidelines regarding the prevention of bird-strikes in
aviation (1974) – has a primarily organisational role and
overall responsibility on the administrative level, the tasks
of the Bird Control are divided into the following catego-
ries:
a) provision of assistance and information to the bird-
strike officer
b) implementation of measures with direct relevance to
flight safety (cf. BALLENSIEFEN u. WIEMANN 1995;
Thomas, C 1988 a).
Category a) comprises tasks like the daily routine patrols
of the airport territory aiming at the early detection of
phenomena or developments that pose an immediate or
potential bird-strike risk, the documentation thereof, as
well as the information of the bird-strike officer. Another
task is the regular observation and counting of birds
which may, however, be limited to the species relevant to
flight safety, and need not to be scientific. Grassland
management controls (e.g. the supervision of the obser-
vance of mowing dates and heights), inspection of build-
ings, halls and hangars in order to detect possible nesting
and roosting places are also the responsibility of the Bird
Control.
The most important concrete measures implied by the
tasks listed under b) are measures which are immediately
relevant to flight safety, like all kinds of bird dispersal
methods, the removal of nests which are not yet or no
longer occupied, and various other actions leading to a
direct reduction in bird numbers.
The Bird Control acts independently if the need arises, as
well as upon the request of the local Air Traffic Control,
and upon the order of the bird-strike officer. All measures
that become necessary within the safety areas should in
advance be coordinated directly with the Air Traffic Con-
trol in order to ensure that no birds are chased into aircraft
taking off or landing as a result of dispersal measures.
Increasing importance is attached to the expansion of bird
control beyond the airport territory, with the goal of ob-
serving the surroundings of the airport (cf. THOMAS
1988 b). On the one hand, this includes the search for
habitats which are relevant to the bird-strike situation or
representative for the local/regional avifauna (they are
usually mentioned in the habitat reports prepared by the
GBSC). On the other hand, it includes the collection of
general data on regional plans and projects which may
affect the bird-strike risk. The observation of the airport
surroundings will play an ever greater role in the future as
dispersal methods have, during the last decade, been op-
timised at most airports while in many cases negative
influences come from outside. And although the amend-
ment of the federal transport minister’s bird-strike guide-
line from 3 April 1986 determines that bird-control meas-
ures outside the airport territory are not the responsibility
of the airport operator, but of the airport authorities, the
bird-strike officer should nonetheless be well informed
about the developments within the closer and wider envi-
ronment to be able to offer competent and informed assis-
tance to the aviation authorities. This should also be in the
interest of the airport operator.
2. Equipment of the Bird Control
The Bird Control should be accommodated near the
Apron Area or in a peripheral place, e.g. in an office con-
tainer, from where there is a good view of the airside area
of the airport.
In order to provide the necessary mobility, the Bird Con-
trol has to be motorised. It is advisable that vehicles be
equipped with four-wheel drive to enable driving on
unsurfaced areas. Furthermore, the vehicles should have
an orange warning light on top to allow for operations in
1
Bird and Aviation, Vol. 23, (2003), No. 1 Morgenroth, C.: Bird Control at German Airports

safety areas. The special interior components have to of dispute. In contrast, the availability of a shotgun, e.g. a
include a radio set for contact with the Tower and the so-called Drilling (a three-barrel gun with two shot barrels
Apron Control. As the Bird Control spends most of the and one rifle barrel), and corresponding live ammunition
time on the Apron Area and on the operational and grass- is an advantage. It is understood that the bird-control staff
land areas, it should be equipped with mobile phones as has to be authorised to use such weapons, and that a suit-
well. able storage space (gun safe) is available, the latter falling
within the responsibility of the airport operator. Although
It is very important that a clipboard and pre-printed forms experience has shown that the use of live ammunition –
in sufficient numbers are available for documenting the before all in the case of imminent danger – is the excep-
activities. Suitably scaled maps of the airport territory and tion, from time to time there is no choice.
its surroundings are also essential.
In the US and in Canada, dogs (Border Collies) have
Tab. 1: Bird Control Equipment Items recently been used successfully for bird dispersal (PAT-
TERSON 2002, CARTER 2002, MORGENROTH et al 2002).
essential optional special At those German airports which appear suited for this
method, the bird-control vehicles would have to provide
four-wheel drive vehi-
space for the dog as well. This is also the case when
cle with warning light;
hawking birds are used, something which has, however,
radio set and mobile been the exception in Germany so far (cf. HAHN 1997).
phone;
binoculars; 3. The Current Organisation of Bird Control in
Germany
photo camera;
voice recorder;
documentation sheets, In contrast to North America, in Germany there are cur-
bird-strike report forms bioacoustics; rently only a small number of airports at which bird con-
and clipboard; dog; trol is carried out by staff specifically appointed or em-
repellents;
ployed for this purpose. Düsseldorf Airport is a case in
maps; hawking
equipment for the point. Here, a professional hunter has been employed in
birds
identification books for collection of soil the early 1990s to take care of bird control and game
flora and (avi-)fauna; and water sam- keeping (BÖLKE 1993). At other airports, bird control has
ples so far been carried out to a varying extent and in different
pyrotechnics;
intensities by other airport services like the Apron Control
hunting gun(s) (Drilling or the Airport Fire Service in the scope of their duties. It
or shotgun and rifle) is necessary that the staff of the respective services re-
and gun safe; ceive training courses (Deacon 2000). In the past, bird
control was frequently confined to the core tasks of ad-
cage for live transport; hoc bird dispersal and the removal of cadavers. Regular
container for cadavers; routine patrols of grassland areas and inspection of build-
freezer ings with the aim of bird-strike prevention, hunting activi-
ties, and the observation of the surroundings were not
Other indispensable pieces of bird-control equipment are standard duties everywhere. The importance of document-
containers for the transport of bird cadavers and a freezer ing the measures taken with the aim of bird-strike preven-
for temporary storage, a cage for living and possibly in- tion has but in the recent past been recognized at some
jured birds and other animals (see § 36, section 2, no. 2 of airports.
the German Federal Hunting Act). It might also be advis-
able to let the Bird Control carry out the collection of soil Splitting bird control between the most different airport
and water samples. Apart from the technical training of services and departments seems problematic as responsi-
the staff, this would require the availability of the neces- bilities and competences regarding bird-strike preven-
sary devices (extraction cylinder, spade, hammer drill, test tion/hunting management are unclear for third parties as
tubes, etc). Table 1 provides an overview of the equip- well as for those involved, are not defined, or even over-
ment. lap. Such forms of organisation impede the flow of infor-
mation, and thus affect the quality of bird control and,
Further equipment items are required depending on the ultimately, of flight safety. In the meantime, this has been
specific (avifaunistic) local circumstances. Devices which recognised by those responsible. As a result, activities are
are probably indispensable are binoculars and pyrotech- taken up at most German airports to reorganise bird con-
nics which are capable not only of flushing but also of trol, prepare handbooks on how to handle the flight-safety
dispersing birds. The effects of bioacoustic devices, repel- aspect of bird-strike prevention, and to expand the infor-
lents and other technical dispersal devices are the subject mation, documentation and reporting system. It can be

2
Bird and Aviation, Vol. 23, (2003), No. 1
regarded as a positive development that such efficient
measures to reduce flight-safety risks posed by the bio-
logical environment are increasingly implemented.
It is desirable that bird control should, at all German air-
ports, be concentrated in one hand and be directly subor-
dinated to the bird-strike officer as this has proved suc-
cessful at many airports in North America, Great Britain
and the Netherlands. Apart from Düsseldorf Airport,
where this concept has, in a slightly modified form, been
implemented some years ago already, comparable ap-
proaches are being pursued at the airports of Frankfurt,
Köln/Bonn (BALLENSIEFEN u. WIEMANN 1995) and
München. It can be expected that other airports, especially
the ones in Northern Germany or those with multiple
runways, will follow in the medium or long term. The
tendency to outsource bird-control tasks to external ser-
vice providers as it can be observed at some foreign air-
ports, has not yet taken hold in Germany.
4. Skills Required of Bird Control Staff
Considering the German situation, the decision to employ
a professional hunter for bird control can be regarded as
particularly advantageous. There are several reasons that
make a professional hunter especially suitable for the job:
People who have successfully completed the relatively
unknown professional hunting apprenticeship possess
valuable knowledge and the necessary skills to meet the
requirements and fulfil the tasks of bird control. They are
trained in the fields of ornithology and ecology, and in-
structed in hunting, animal protection and weapons law.
Furthermore, they acquire knowledge in the field of vet-
erinary medicine, and get acquainted with the provisions
regarding epizootic disease control. A sound basic knowl-
edge of wildlife and habitat management can be taken for
granted. This means that professional hunters will most
certainly not need a long orientation period in order to be
able to carry out bird-control tasks autonomously and on
their own responsibility, according to the guidelines. As
they own hunting and gun licences, they are allowed to
carry fire arms and high-calibre signal pistols for hunting
and bird-dispersal activities. Professional hunters usually
work with well-trained hunting dogs. In many cases, they
are falconers as well. However, one of the most important
reasons why professional hunters are the right people to
carry out bird control is the fact that they are personally
and professionally interested in such an activity and do
not dismiss it as a necessary evil.
As a complement to the indispensable habitat manage-
ment, the reorganisation of bird control according to the
Düsseldorf example would, in the eyes of the author, be a
significant contribution to the promotion of flight safety
in the form of optimised bird-strike prevention at German
airports.
Morgenroth, C.: Bird Control at German Airports
5. References
ARBEITSGEMEINSCHAFT DEUTSCHER VERKEHRSFLUGHÄ-
FEN (Hrsg.): Empfehlungen der ADV für die Tätigkeit der
Vogelschlagbeauftragten an Verkehrsflughäfen vom
07.05.1986. Stuttgart, 1986
BALLENSIEFEN, R.;. WIEMANN, H.-G.: Aufgaben des
Vogelschlagbeauftragten und der „Bird Control“ am
Flughafen Köln/Bonn. In: Vogel und Luftverkehr 15
(1995), Nr. 1, S. 19-22
BUNDESMINISTER FÜR VERKEHR (Hrsg.): Richtlinien zur
Verhütung von Vogelschlägen im Luftverkehr u. Nachtrag
v. 1986. Bonn, 1974
BÖLKE, Angelika: Maßnahmen zur Vogelschlagverhütung
am Flughafen Düsseldorf. In: Vogel und Luftverkehr 13
(1993), Nr. 1, S. 48-57
CARTER, Nicolas: Der Einsatz von Border Collies im
Rahmen des Vogel- und Wildtierkontrollprogramms. In:
Vogel und Luftverkehr 22 (2002), Nr. 1, S. 59-61
DEACON, Nigel: Aerodrome Bird Hazard Control Train-
ing in the UK. In: IBSC (Hrsg.): Meeting Proceedins. 25,
I. Amsterdam, 2000. – S.205-206
HAHN, Edmund: Untersuchung zur Wirkung von Falken
für die Vergrämung von Vögeln am Bundeswehrflugplatz
Nordholz sowie der benachbarten Deponie Cuxhaven. In:
IBSC (Hrsg.): Meeting Proceedings. 23. London, 1996. -
WP 37 – S. 347-351
MACKINNON, Bruce et al.; TRANSPORT CANADA (Hrsg.):
Sharing the Skies. An Aviation Industry Guide to the
Management of Wildlife Hazards. Ottawa, 2001
MORGENROTH, Christoph; LEINS, Karl; STERN, Marina:
Vogelvergrämung mit Hilfe von Border Collies. In: Vogel
und Luftverkehr 22 (2002), Nr. 2, S. 26-37
PATTERSON, Brett: Wildtierkontrolle am Vancouver In-
ternational Airport und der Einsatz von Broder Collies.
In: Vogel und Luftverkehr 22 (2002), Nr. 1, S. 55-58
THOMAS, Callum: Organisation der Bird Control. In:
Vogel und Luftverkehr 8 1988, Nr. 1, S. 7-12
THOMAS, Callum: Vogelkontrolle außerhalb von Flughä-
fen. In: Vogel und Luftverkehr 8 1988, Nr. 1, S. 32-41
Address of the author:
Dr. Christoph Morgenroth
Haag 44
D- 54497 Morbach
morgen.roth@t-online.de