These border collies are way above average. I
wouldn't be surprised if many are MENSA DOG members already. They
protect us and we don't even know it. Many Border collies keep
emailing me bragging about their other talents and I am impressed.
However, I am currently on line with Malcolm, a protector collie
that locates lost humans and is a real professional.
An article in USA TODAY shows the versatility
of this amazing dog. "Southwest Florida International Relies On An
Old Fashioned Remedy For Runway safety: A Smart Dog"
Since 2001, a nine year old border collie
has been patrolling the runway and chasing any birds in sight. A
bird being sucked into aircraft engines is one of the most
persistent safety problems at airports. Border collies scare the
birds but don't harm them."
Why haven't we thought of this before?
Border collies have been herding cattle and sheep for years. Why
not birds? The military, to their credit, was the first to use
dogs to chase birds from runways. The first civilian use however,
was by Southwest Florida commercial airport to begin using dogs in
1999, says an airport spokeswoman.
Bird populations have fallen dramatically
and the dogs like the challenge of patrolling the runways.
Surrounded by lakes and wetlands the airport draws a variety of
species, including sandhill cranes, eagles, wood storks, turkey
vultures, egrets, herons, and ducks.
Finally, The Federal Aviation Administration
has asked airports to update their wildlife management programs
for the obvious purpose of safety thanks to the Border collie. Now
airports are using fake owls, firecrackers, and propane cannons to
deter birds."
Embarrass, MN, my hometown, doesn't have an
international airport yet but when they do, the birds to keep away
will be Canadian geese, wild turkeys, and Mug Wumps...but that's
another story.
