Royal Navy bird of prey Oddbod keeps the skies safe at RNAS Culdrose

The 18-year-old one-eyed peregrine merlin has a very special job

Meet the special bird that has been keeping the skies of Cornwall safe for flyers for the last 18 years. This is a peregrine merlin cross-breed affectionately named Oddbod by staff at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose at Helston.

Despite being blind in one eye, Oddbod is an exceptional bird, having reached his 18 birthday on Monday (June 4). Most peregrine merlins only live up to 15 years.

He is part of a team of birds which are used to keep the runways at RNAS Culdrose safe by scaring aware wild birds which could be a danger to aircraft.

Culdrose has its own Airfield Wildlife Control Unit, designated in typical Naval fashion by the abbreviation AWCU.

Sahra-Lee Thomas, the AWCU supervisor, said: “Birds are the biggest threat to arriving and departing aircraft and the unit proactively uses pyrotechnics, recorded bird distress calls and birds of prey to move wild birds away from the runways and manoeuvering areas.

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This robot bird will scare real birds away from airports

By Duncan Geere

 

Is it a bird, is it a plane?

Birds are bad news for airports. As well as the risk of a "bird-strike" downing a plane, they cause material damage estimated to run into billions of pounds a year.

To control the populations of birds, airports use pyrotechnics, sound cannons, lasers and other technological systems. But birds get used to them over time and learn to fly around them.

That's why roboticists from the University of Twente have developed a lifelike robotic bird that will patrol the landing strip, scaring real birds away at Edmonton International Airport in Canada.

The bot, which has been codenamed "Robird", mimics the appearance and flight of a falcon. It's the creation of Clear Flight Solutions - a spin-off company from the University - which collaborated on a Canadian drone services firm called Aerium for the project.

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Bird of prey to scare off Devizes gulls

1:00pm Saturday 31st January 2015 in News

An action plan to reduce gull numbers in Devizes and the surrounding areas was announced at Devizes Area Board on Monday night.

The board agreed to contribute £3,200 towards the £10,000-a-year project, which will use a bird of prey to scare the gulls along with replacing eggs with fake ones.

The bird of prey, which is being supplied by Harris Hawks and Falcons, would fly three hours daily for 10 days and then 26 more flights through the year to maintain a presence in the area.

On four occasions there will also be an egg and nest removal program for roof areas during April, May and June, with access arranged by Wiltshire Council.

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