Police dog reject a hit with the birds

A police dog reject has found new career success as a bird chaser at Brisbane Airport.

Brisbane Airport Corporation wildlife management and planning co-ordinator Jackson Ring with Ozzie, the latest weapons against birdstrikes. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

A german shepherd rejected by the Queensland Police Service as “too soft” has found a new calling as Brisbane Airport’s latest weapon against birds.

Ozzie is part of a multi-pronged approach to wildlife management at the airport, which recorded 1139 birdstrikes from 2008 to 2017, more than any other in Australia.

Although most incidents are of no consequence to the aircraft involved because of the small size of the birds, Brisbane Airport Corporation strives to minimise the risk as much as possible.

Among its artillery are sirens, horns, pyrotechnics as well as landscaping designed to deter birds, and now there’s Ozzie too.

Wildlife management and planning co-ordinator Jackson Ring said he was acquired by BAC after a chat with the Queensland Police dog squad.

“They said they had a canine who was not exactly what they were looking for. He’s more of a lover than a fighter. He’s not quite aggressive enough,” Mr Ring said.

What Ozzie lacked as a crimefighter he’s made up for as a bird chaser, quickly developing a particular dislike for ibis.

“He just enjoys the chase, and the new parallel runway site because it’s not operational yet is a really good training ground for him,” said Mr Ring.

“His priority in life is ball play, so he’ll go out and shoo the birds, chase a few away then he’ll come back and want to play. That’s his life and he absolutely loves it.”

Brisbane is not the first airport in Australia to have a dog on its wildlife management staff, with the Gold Coast using labrador Joe for seven years until his death in 2018.

Mr Ring said the advantage dogs had over other measures was their predator status.

“With sirens and noises, wildlife can habituate to those sorts of things to the point where they can be ineffective,” he said.

“But if you put a predator like Ozzie in the environment, he’s literally top dog.

“There’s no reason a bird would want to hang around if there’s a dog getting around so his presence on the airfield does a lot to deter the wildlife.”

Ozzie’s energy is also an advantage, with the airport precinct stretching over 1700 hectares, including 360 hectares surrounding the new runway, due to open in July.

“It’s an airfield without aircraft at the moment so it’s a prime opportunity for us to get Ozzie out there and make sure no birds settle on site while we’re doing our final preparations,” said Mr Ring.

“He’s pretty much in doggy heaven, and he does not have an off switch. He’s go, go, go.”

At the end of the work day, Ozzie heads home with Mr Ring, which helps establish a “good working bond”.

“I’ve been in aviation safety for over a decade now and I can see the impact Ozzie’s having,” he said.

“He’s also a great morale booster. I love having him around.”