Flocks away - the human scarecrows

Flocks away - the human scarecrows

Aug 26 2005
By Lisa Hutchinson, The Evening Chronicle

Is it a bird, is it a plane - no it's Swooperman.



This is expert bird scarer Mike Bennett getting into a flap during Newcastle Airport's busy season.

He is a member of a 13-strong team trained to flap like falcons as they swoop alongside the runway to keep flocks of rooks, lapwings, seagulls and starlings away from aeroplanes landing and taking off.

Birds are a big problem. If one is sucked into an aircraft's engine it could cause major damage.

The human scarecrows work all year around but this is the time of year when the rooks fly back to Britain after their migration period.

And the gang of flappers are getting ready to ruffle some feathers.

The bird scaring is part of airside operations. As well as running up and down the runway flapping their arms, they sweep the runway, de-ice it in the winter, maintain lights and guide the aircraft.

As part of bird management the flappers also play recordings of distressed birds through loud speakers to discourage circling flocks from landing. They also fire flares and shotguns in a last bid to deter birds.

Mike, 33, of Brunswick Green, North Tyneside, did a week's training before qualifying for his position.

His training included identifying birds, learning about their behaviour and being taught to flap like a falcon, which preys on other birds.

Mike said: "We are taught to flap our arms like a giant bird of prey. It frightens off the rooks, lapwings, seagulls and starlings. It's primitive but it works. They think we are big birds and they stay clear.

"You feel a bit self-conscious at first but that soon goes. It is a very important job. We need to keep the birds clear from hitting the aircrafts' windscreens and engines."

Mike, a father of one, with another on the way, added: "Rooks are the intelligent ones. After a while they know the distress calls are recordings, they know it's just us.

"We keep the grass around the runway long as birds prefer short grass. But the rooks are cunning and they hide. They even bob their heads down when we spot them. It's a bit of a game they play.

"We use siren noises, recordings of birds in distress, shotguns and flares, but the most effective way to frighten the birds off is flapping.

"The rooks are due to return now after their migration period, so we'll be very busy keeping them away."

Five million passengers use Newcastle Airport a year, with 20,000 people and around 300 flights a day in the holiday season.

Fellow flapper, Adam Williamson, 21, of Greenside, near Gateshead, said: "It sounds a bit funny when we say we flap our arms to warn off the birds, but it works so we do it."

Chris Davis, airport air traffic services manager, said: "The team do an excellent job. It is a vital part of the day to day running of the airport."

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