Subject: [China] Bird killing at Boashan airport, Yunnan 雲南保山機場霧網殺雀長城陣 [Print This Page] Author: wcaptain Time: 29/12/2016 11:41 Subject: Bird killing at Boashan airport, Yunnan 雲南保山機場霧網殺雀長城陣
I visited Yunnan in mid Dec and hoped to see some nice birds. Unfortunately, when I just landed at the Baoshan airport, I was shock by the mist net trapping of birds at the airport, probably a preventive measure against bird strike.
The total length of mist nets is about 4.5 km and about 500 trapped birds were counted. So, it is likely that 10,000 birds were trapped (and get killed) at the airport annually.
When I returned to Kunming, I also saw such trapping.
Ironically, Baoshan does promote itself as a paradise of birds. But visitors have to see the brutal way of how they slaughter unwelcome birds at the airport first
According to information available on the website, all airports in Yunnan are managed by a company called “Yunnan Airport Group Co Ltd”. So, they may use “mist net” trapping to kill birds at all airports in Yunnan. http://english.ynairport.com/profile.jhtml
[ Last edited by wcaptain at 29/12/2016 11:44 ] Author: cgeoff Time: 29/12/2016 19:43
Unfortunately, this is likely to be very inefficient and ineffective way of reducing bird strikes. It targets species that are relatively small and thus less of a hazard. Further, if the nets are not cleared frequently, the number of dead and dying birds attracts larger scavengers such as crows, shrikes and certain raptors that are more likely to be a problem. The airport would be better managing the habitat to reduce bird attraction and ascertaining the identity of birds actually struck by aircraft, in order to target those in some way instead.
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