Ecological Study of the Avifauna and Bird Strike Problem At Addis Ababa Bole International Airport
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Date
1996-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The avifauna of the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport was studied to describe the
ecological relationship of the birds and bird strike problem at the airport. The bird composition
and abundance were studied using a transect and modified point count method. Visitor and
Transient birds were further categorized depending on their frequency of occurrence. Cluster
analysis and Principal Component Analysis were employed to sumrnarizethe relationship of the
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birds between each other. Diversity of the birds was estimated using Shannon - Weiver
Diversity Index. The Biomass and the Species Richness of the birds were computed. The
duration and rate of bird strike incidents were analyzed. A preliminary investigation was made
on the Vegetation, Invertebrates, Herpetiles and Small Mammals.
A total of 70 bird species were identified. The birds were classified into 12 Orders. Fiftyseven
per cent of the birds belong to the Order Passeriformes. Birds of Prey comprised 15%
of the bird species at Bole. Eighty - four per cent of the birds from Bole were visitors that
stayed at the airport in search offood, water and/or sheher. The others were transient birds that
used the airport airspace as their passage route to their feeding or nesting sites. Three of the
transient birds pass across the airport frequently in a regular time of the day. Thirty of the
visitor bird species appeared in the airport very infrequently while 12 were residents.
There is no clear variation in the abundance of each species in time. However, six major groups
of birds were produced in the cluster analysis indicating each cluster appeared in the airport at
a similar instance. The airport was found to be characterized by birds of high diversity and low density. The vegetation structure and rainfall played important roles in determining the species
diversity and richness of the birds. The invertebrates, herpetiles, and small mammals, garbage
dmnps and other biological and physical factors attract the birds to the airport. September and
October were the worst months for aviation. No bird strike was observed in May and June.
Pigeons and Black Kites played the major role in air strike incidents. Seventy per cent of the
strikes occurred before noon, which is also the time for heavy air traffic. Maintaining the grass
at an optimal height, prohibiting agricuhural activities around the airport, clearing open garbage ". . - --',< ,.'
dmnps in and around the airport and the use of insecticide spray to eliminate insects in the
vegetation around the runway are suggested. However, the nse of integrated approach is
recommended to be even more effective.
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Biology