'Bird's-Eye View' Of Republic Day Security: How 1,270 Kg Chicken Will Keep Delhi's Skies Clear

Last Updated:January 15, 2026, 04:41 IST

The Delhi Forest Department will use the meat to manage the movement of black kites and prevent dangerous bird strikes during IAF's aerial manoeuvres

Large raptors are notoriously common in Delhi’s urban landscape and pose a significant hazard to low-flying fighter jets like the Rafale and Sukhoi-30MKI. File pic/PTI

As the Indian Air Force (IAF) prepares for its signature aerial display over Kartavya Path on January 26, a unique and meticulously planned operation is unfolding on the ground to secure the capital’s airspace. In a specialised move to prevent bird strikes, the Delhi Forest Department, in coordination with the IAF, is deploying over 1,270 kg of boneless chicken across the city. This “meat-throwing" exercise is a strategic intervention designed to manage the movement of black kites—large raptors that are notoriously common in Delhi’s urban landscape and pose a significant hazard to low-flying fighter jets like the Rafale and Sukhoi-30MKI.

The logic behind the initiative is both biological and tactical. Black kites are naturally drawn to open spaces and reliable food sources. By providing a steady supply of high-quality meat at 20 designated locations away from the flight corridors, authorities ensure the birds remain “adequately fed" and engaged at lower altitudes. This prevents them from soaring into the higher-altitude “kill zones" where aircraft perform high-speed manoeuvres. This year’s operation, which began on January 15, involves scattering small 20- to 30-gram pieces of chicken to attract the birds’ attention, effectively “luring" them away from the sensitive air show routes.

While the practice of meat-tossing is an annual tradition, 2026 marks a significant shift in protocol. For the first time, the department has transitioned from buffalo meat to boneless chicken. Officials noted that the switch was made to better balance wildlife management with the practicalities of the exercise. The logistics are extensive: a total of 1,275 kg of chicken is being delivered in phases to the Wildlife Rescue Centre in Wazirabad. Peak feeding is scheduled for January 22—the day of the full-dress rehearsal—when approximately 255 kg of meat will be distributed to ensure maximum bird diversion during the most critical flight window.

The feeding sites have been carefully mapped based on years of bird-movement data. High-concentration zones such as the Red Fort and Jama Masjid are receiving priority, alongside other identified hotspots near Mandi House and Delhi Gate. By conditioning the kites to expect food at these specific points in the days leading up to the Republic Day celebrations, the Forest Department creates a predictable “feeding pattern" that keeps the sky clear for the nation’s aviators. As the jets roar overhead, this quiet, ground-level strategy remains one of the most vital—if unconventional—pillars of Delhi’s integrated airspace security.

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