I have sent many emails and made many telephone calls since July 2003 to both the TPA and airport management about getting an effective bird/wildlife management program.

The TPA is finally conducting a year-long wildlife study that commenced in September 2008. The busiest time for guns and flares and therefore geese, ducks, gulls etc is Spring through to the end of September. (You see, I could have saved the TPA thousands on the study, get a couple of border collies and some falcons and Bob's your uncle!!)

Vollies of flares and gun-like sounds ripple through the air hourly in the Summer because the birds/geese/gulls become habituated to the sounds, and the guy in the white truck has to fire off a few more rounds for good measure!

The TPA has been unresponsive to implementing a wildlife/bird management program for many years and certainly this study has not been prompted by any regard or "balance" for the community, more likely it is because Porter wishes a more effective wildlife/bird managment system with the projected increase in aircraft and flights in and out of this badley located airport.

Claire Hughes