Changbei Airport, which inaugurated its first flight two months ago, deserves to be proud of its first-class navigation system, but now finds itself with an unexpected threat to air safety: birds.

The airport, situated in the suburbs of Nanchang, capital of Jiangxi Province, east China, is situated within a dozen kilometers of nests of perennial bird species like egrets and some migratory birds like white cranes.

In winter, the sparse bird population presents no threat, but once the weather turns warm, the gathering flocks are hard to ignore, said an airport administrator.

Airport officials have taken steps to dispel the birds, many of which are under state protection, and their actions have caught the attention of local animal rights activists.

The aviation administration bureau, forestry and nature protection departments in Jiangxi have joined Changbei Airport to seek humane ways to keep the airport bird-free in the coming spring.

One of the country's important air hubs, Changbei Airport now accommodates 130 flights per week, and two million passengers a year. (Xinhua)