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NO FLIGHT TODAY: The curious emu has a look around the airport terminal on the weekend. Pictures: Wildlife Rescue Whyalla and Surrounding Areas.
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
The City of Whyalla and Whyalla Airport management have thanked the Wildlife Rescue Whyalla and Surrounding Areas group for its prompt assistance on the weekend with two friendly birds.
The wildlife group was first called out when a goose was found wandering around near baggage area of the airport near the carpark. That particular bird flew off before the group could deal with it but it wasn’t long before they were called back when an emu strolled into the airport terminal.
Taking advantage of the automatic sliding doors, the young bird came into the terminal and was happily checking out the interior while there was no immediate flights and no passengers in the building.
EMU ON BOARD: The emu loaded up in the Wildlife group's vehicle to be taken back into the bush.
Council's Manager – Airport Operations, Howard Aspey called the wildlife group which came straight back out to look after the curious bird. With Howard’s help, they carefully captured the emu and took it off to a safer place back in the bush.
“The wildlife group were fantastic, they came straight out for both incidents,” Howard said.
“He (the emu) wasn’t aggressive, the wildlife officer picked him up like a chicken and he was safely put into the back of a vehicle and taken back to the bush.”
Howard said the airport security measures meant there was no chance the emu could get on to the tarmac. The airport also has two new wildlife prevention trailers that are moved around near the tarmac to keep birds and animals away from the tarmac.
“We’ve had these new trailers now for nearly a year and they’ve been very effective,” Howard said.
“They emit different noises and frequencies to deter the birds and animals on the ground.
"We haven’t had a problem since they were put in place.”
MORE FAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS: The airport emu is returned to the bush by the wildlife group.