rate of one a week, and they are now taking safety precautions to limit potential risks.

Birds flying through the path of planes during take-off and landing have become a major threat to aviation safety in the last few years. Awareness of the danger has grown since a KLM aircraft made an emergency landing after a bird destroyed its engine.

Martin Weernaart, who is heading the Wildlife Control Program at the Airport, said: "Although most birds here are small, a heron or gull only weighing about six pounds, will hit the craft with an eight tonne impact, causing serious damage to the fuselage and windows.'' Mr. Weernaart explained: "Bermuda lies right in the path of birds migrating from Nova Scotia to South America, and if there's a storm they stop here and the Island has more birds than it can handle.'' The Bermuda Airport has made many modifications to the airfield to make it less habitable for birds. Measures include the cutting down of the trees along Kindley field, as well as always keeping the grass short. Methods for scaring them include a tape recording of distress calls from various birds, played over a hand held loudspeaker on the runway.

Also, Mr. Weernaart has been given a special licence for a gun, which fires special blanks into a flock of birds, creating a fireworks-like effect. Also traps are in place along the runway, where captured birds are gassed and given to museums overseas.

Photo David Skinner All fired up: Wildlife programme chief Martin Weermaart fires blanks to scare away birds from aircraft.

ANIMALS ALS