Chasing birds with the wind in their hair, and sometimes in their mouths, is what the dogs of the Bird Strike Avoidance Project at OR Tambo International Airport live for. Actually, it’s their daily job – to wake up in the morning and chase unwanted birds off to ensure that the grasslands surrounding the runways are clear. Not only can an aeroplane lose its engine when it strikes a big bird, but the bird is also killed instantly. To replace an engine of a Boeing 747-800 costs in the region of US$12 million.

Patrolling the airport

Animaltalk had the opportunity to go out with the dogs to follow them on a daily round. The team of dogs, which consists of two Border Collies and two English Springer Spaniels, actively patrols the two runways and the grasslands adjacent to the runways from dawn to dusk. The patrols take place with their handlers in an all-terrain vehicle (ATV).

“When a bird is sighted by one of the handlers, the working dog is given a whistle command and the dog then actively chases or flushes the bird,” explains Melissa Hofmann, senior wildlife officer, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA).