Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
AIRPORT ‘OILS’ GOOSE EGGS IN FLIGHT FEARS
Concerns after biologist is called in to stop birds hatching in nearby park
BELFAST City Airport bosses have stopped goose eggs from hatching over fears young birds could fly into planes.
They sent a biologist to carry out a process on a number of greylag goose eggs called pricking or oiling, which stops the embryo inside from forming.
The airport has been granted a licence by Belfast City Council to carry out work in nearby Victoria Park when it deems it necessary. The local authority said it has no physical involvement in the bird control activity.
Local residents contacted the Mirror with concerns that some of the birds may have been culled. But the airport said this has never taken place and no living birds have come to harm. The eggs that were oiled would still have been yolks and no embryos would have developed yet.
A spokesman said: “We have a legal obligation to safeguard the airfield, which includes controlling the feral greylag goose population in Victoria Park. There has never been a cull of the geese.
“The method of controlling the population, known as egg pricking/oiling, takes place by a biologist shortly after the eggs have been laid under licence from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and with the permission of Belfast City Council. At this stage, only yolk is contained within the egg.
“Belfast City Airport is committed to managing its operations in an environmentally sensitive manner whilst ensuring air safety.” Alliance councillor Michelle Kelly asked if there was another method that could be used to control the bird population in the park, rather than destroying the embryos.
She said: “This is the first that I have heard of this process and I wonder if there is another way, that may be more humane, that could be used to control the geese population.
“Victoria Park is a place where people can go and enjoy the abundance of wildlife there and the geese and their eggs should be treasured.
“I will be looking to speak with Belfast City Airport to discuss with them other
YESTERDAY
methods that could possibly be used. I understand the health and safety of the planes is of key importance and must be protected but there may be another more humane approach.
“In America they have used drones and other methods to scare birds away and that could be something we could look at here. We could also look at planting spiky grass instead of the flat grass, which may stop them from staying in the area.”
It is not yet known how many eggs were targeted for oiling. However, in 2017, 1,800 goose eggs were destroyed in Victoria Park by the airport.