Numerous birds have chosen to call the Cameron Municipal Airport their home, and authorities are looking for ways to boot them out of the nest.

Cameron City Council members learned Tuesday of a plan to control the airport’s nuisance bird population that would include the use of firearms, said City Manager David Watson.

A large number of Rock Doves, European Starlings and Ring-Tailed Pigeons have built nests in the airport’s T-hangars, city officials said. The birds could pose a fire and mid-flight hazard for aircraft owners if they should ever enter engine cowlings and fuselages.

None of the birds is a migratory or protected species, according to information from the Missouri Department of Conservation, meaning the city has authority for eradication.

The issue bedevils many airports, Mr. Watson said, including those in urban areas. Some municipalities have even taken to draping material over planes to prevent birds from entering when they’re idle, he said.

“It’s really gotten out of hand,” he said. “T-hangars are conducive for them to nest in ... We want the field very secure.”

In the long term, the city will try to eliminate potential nesting areas in the hangars, Mr. Watson said. Live traps will be set up to catch the birds, and an effort will be made to better seal openings in the buildings.

“It’s something that’s never been addressed,” Mr. Evans said. “They’re going to nest in any hangar.”

Some airports enlist the help of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to eliminate birds, he said. Cameron’s airport has so far avoided any situations with birds actually nesting in airplanes, he added.

It’s a given the birds will likely return to the airport despite efforts at control, Mr. Evans admitted.

“We want to keep the birds away if we can,” he said.

Cameron Police Chief Corey Sloan said it’s still unknown when his firearms instructors will shoot the birds, although .22-caliber bird shot will be used on the Rock Doves per a conservation recommendation.

“We’re in the processes of trying to figure out what to do,” Mr. Sloan said.

The airport is located southwest of Cameron on Missouri Route A and is home base for more than 30 planes.

Ray Scherer can be reached

at rscherer@npgco.com.