Maintaining the safety of operations is a priority at airports, and fauna study and management on the premises and in the surrounding areas is a key factor in reducing bird strike risk.
To address these aspects and share experiences among stakeholders, the Spanish State Air Safety Agency (AESA) has organized the III National Forum on Aviation and Fauna. AENA, which manages the Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, presented the results of a monitoring study of Herring gulls near the airport by equipping individuals with GPS transmitters.
The results showed, the effectiveness of the measures taken at the airport to prevent these birds from entering the runway area. The study also identified relevant places for these seagulls to develop their life cycle, including resting, feeding, and reproduction areas.
This information, like the rest of the wildlife monitoring work carried out by AENA with the collaboration of MINUARTIA, helps to anticipate risks derived from the presence of fauna. As a result, preventive management measures can be carried out, either within the airport or in collaboration with external actors.
