Bekele Afework (PhD)Yohannes Elizabeth2018-06-272023-11-082018-06-272023-11-081996-05http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/4086The 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 ,', ---'-- '>' -, ''-,-' ---:,' --"'-';O'!;;"'-.-:i>,_-- 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.enBiologyThesis