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France: With the Sky sentinels at Nantes Airport
REPORT – Nantes Atlantique Airport is the only civil aerodrome in France to have an integrated falconry unit as part of its wildlife hazard prevention service. Four birds of prey currently work to reduce the risk of collisions with air traffic.
With her chestnut eyes, the hawk carefully follows the giant metal bird emerging on the horizon. The aircraft extends its steel and rubber legs as it approaches the tarmac, raises its nose, levels its wings, and roars as it touches down safely. The low-cost Airbus has landed smoothly at Nantes Atlantique Airport.
The Harris’s hawk watching the scene loses interest — its usual targets are smaller: gulls, herons, kestrels.
“Tucuman!” calls Anthony Renaud, the airport’s wildlife control officer, from below the antenna where the bird had perched. The hawk reacts instantly, returning to the falconer’s gloved arm. Together with the other raptors and wildlife control agents, the pair form the sky sentinels of Nantes Airport.
Anthony Renaud, the head of this unique unit, proudly watches his bird preen its feathers against the thick leather of his glove. “Falconries are common in southern European airports — in Italy or Spain — mainly because of the local climate and wildlife,” he explains. “At Nantes, we only added this component in 2017. Since then, we remain the only civilian airport in France with its own falconry service. Before that, we only used acoustic and pyrotechnic means — flares — to scare birds away.”
The integration of raptors has proven remarkably effective, combining traditional know-how with modern aviation safety. At Nantes, the alliance between man and bird continues to protect the skies.