In June 1997, RSW contracted with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to conduct a baseline 11-month ecological study of the airport environment and its wildlife. The USDA study recorded 113 wildlife species within and just outside the aircraft operations area (AOA). The majority of observed wildlife species were birds - primarily wading birds, waterfowl, and crows/blackbirds. These three categories of birds accounted for more than 92% of all the wildlife observed. After the employment of a single Border Collie on Feb. 11, 1999, RSW commissioned a comparison study to measure the effect the dog had on wildlife populations. The airport contracted with Kevin L. Erwin Consulting Ecologist (KLECE) to survey the wildlife from February to September 15, 1999 and to analyze and compare the datasets.

In 1999, after the introduction and use of the Border Collie, wildlife monitoring showed a significant overall reduction in the number of species as well as the total number of birds in each category. The 1999 survey revealed a 29% reduction in the overall number of species in the top 4 categories of birds (wading birds, waterfowl, crows/blackbirds, and raptors). Additionally there was an overall reduction in the number of individual birds observed. The abundance of wading birds in the 1999 survey was less than half that observed in 1997/98.

Bird counts reduced dramatically immediately after the employment of the Border Collie and remained low for the duration of the survey period, except for two periods of moderate increase in late April and August (Figure 1). The rise in blackbirds in August was primarily due to a single large flock of more than 300 individual birds that was observed on the AOA, influencing the August average. The increase in wading birds in April was most likely caused by the absence of the Border Collie. After only two months of work at RSW, bird numbers were so low that the dog resorted to herding alligators - one of the few remaining moving objects left on the AOA. The dog was returned to Border Collie Rescue for additional training in alligator avoidance and in his absence, bird numbers began to rise significantly.

Figure 1: Bird count data for Southwest Florida International Airport after the employment of a single Border Collie on Feb. 11, 1999

Additionally the Border Collie had a dramatic effect on the behavior of birds on the AOA. Almost all of the birds that remained on the AOA after the introduction of the Border Collie congregated in a large drainage ditch several hundred yards south of the runway. Due to the presence of several alligators in the habitat, the dog was not allowed to harass wildlife within the drainage swale. As a result, a small number of waterfowl and wading birds that were flushed by the dog in open areas of the AOA sought refuge in the deep water habitat of the swale. Before February 1999, large aggregates of birds would forage and loaf in the open grassy areas around the runway. After the Border Collie began its work, most birds responded by vacating the AOA altogether but the few individuals that remained relocated to the protection of the wide drainage swale, several hundred yards further from the runway.

The Border Collie also prevented pairs of Florida sandhill cranes from nesting or roosting on the AOA. Prior to the dogs arrival, at least two pairs of sandhill cranes were observed nesting within the AOA each year. The dog managed to successfully prevent any pairs from breeding within the AOA in both 1999 and 2000, even though the dog was introduced into the habitat in 1999 only weeks before the normal nesting period. Sandhill cranes pose the most significant threat to aircraft operations at RSW and the minimization of their time within the AOA (as well as the exclusion of any immature birds) represented an important accomplishment for the Border Collie and the management program.

Even more significant, the number of bird strikes to aircraft dropped to zero during the study period, after the introduction of the Border Collie. RSW recorded ten strikes in 1997 and 16 in 1998 (Figure 2). Since the conclusion of the study, there have been 4 bird strikes through February 2000 (an additional 5 months). Two of the birds were soaring raptors, which the Border Collie could not reach in his harassment work. None of the bird strikes recorded during the dog's work have resulted in damage or passenger delays. Unconfirmed strikes also dramatically fell, from 37 in 1997 and 30 in 1998, to 8 unconfirmed strikes from January to September 15, 1999.

Figure 2: Comparison of bird strike data for RSW before and after the utilization of the Border Collie.

The results achieved by RSW and its Border Collie are quite impressive considering some of the limitations of the management program. The Border Collie is handled by airport operations agents and is only worked for two short periods during the day (once in the morning and once in the afternoon). Additionally, due to the presence of alligators, the dog is not allowed to work the large drainage swale south of the runway, where the majority of remaining birds congregate. Training of airport personnel has also been very limited and airport officials are looking to establish a training support program in the future with BCR staff.

Border Collie Effect on Bird Populations (II)

Comparison of March 1999 Bird Populations to March 1998 Populations (with and without the dog) (I)

Comparison of March 1999 Bird Populations to March 1998 Populations (with and without the dog) (II)

Border Collie Rescue Bird Strike Control Program