A department of Conservation manager believes a plan to poison black-backed gulls nesting near Te Anau Airport will pose little threat to other bird species.
The airport, located about 20km from Te Anau at Manapouri, is owned by the Southland District Council.
Doc and the airport authority have developed a five-year plan to reduce numbers by poisoning birds at two of their main nesting colonies in the area, Kepler Mire and Stuart Farm Wetlands.
Alpha-Chloralose will be laid when the birds begin nesting, usually between early October and mid-November. The first application is expected within the next month, as the birds are only beginning to nest now.
Doc Te Anau area biodiversity manager Lindsay Wilson said this week that, unlike some other types of gulls, black-backed gulls were not endangered or protected.
Laying poison at the nesting sites would target gulls and reduce the risk of killing other birds, he said.
"There is some small risk to blackbirds and other exotic birds, but we do not think there is any risk to native birds."
Dead birds would be collected and buried, he said.
Airport manager Evan Pearce said the airport authority was required under Civil Aviation regulations to manage wildlife and reduce the risk of bird strikes.
Gulls were drawn to the airport's warm tarmac and, because of their large size, posed a significant "impact damage" risk.
The authority had commissioned Doc to carry out surveys on the gull population and nesting sites before finalising the plan, he said.
It was not known how many birds might die.
Approval had been gained from Doc, the Southland District Council and the Ministry of Health. A consultation document had been distributed to 56 affected parties and approval sought from 19 neighbouring landowners.
