How 1,275 kg of boneless chicken is part of Delhi’s Republic Day prep

Republic Day choppers

• Delhi to use 1,275 kg boneless chicken to divert birds before Republic Day show
• Meat thrown at 20 locations to keep black kites away from flight corridors
• Switch from buffalo meat to chicken aims for better wildlife management

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As fighter jets prepare to roar over Delhi for the Republic Day air show, the city is turning to an unusual but time-tested strategy to keep the skies safe.

The Delhi Forest Department will use more than 1,270 kg of boneless chicken to manage the movement of black kites and prevent dangerous bird strikes during low-flying aerial manoeuvres, reported PTI.

The exercise, conducted annually in advance of the January 26 celebrations in coordination with the Indian Air Force, aims to divert birds away from sensitive flight corridors. Bird strikes are considered a serious threat during air shows, especially when aircraft fly at low altitudes.

“This is an annual preventive exercise undertaken before the Republic Day air show,” a senior forest department official said. “Birds like black kites are naturally attracted to open areas and food sources. If they enter the flying corridor, they can pose a serious hazard to aircraft.”

What is new this year is the choice of feed. Officials said the department has switched from buffalo meat to chicken for the first time. “Earlier, buffalo meat was used. This year, we are using chicken meat. The idea is to strike a balance between wildlife management and the smooth conduct of Republic Day celebrations,” the official added.

The meat-throwing exercise will run from January 15 to January 26 across 20 identified locations in the capital, including high-risk zones such as the Red Fort and Jama Masjid, where black kite activity is typically high. Other locations include areas near Mandi House, Delhi Gate and the Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences.

“These sites are selected every year based on bird movement patterns,” the official explained. “By feeding the birds at designated points, we ensure they remain away from the air show route while also being adequately fed.”

The process involves throwing small pieces of chicken meat into the air at specific locations so that birds stay engaged at lower altitudes and do not drift toward aircraft routes. The activity is repeated daily over nearly two weeks to help birds adapt to the feeding pattern well before Republic Day.

To support the operation, the Delhi government’s Department of Forests and Wildlife has issued a short-term tender for the supply of 1,275 kg of boneless chicken. The meat will be delivered over seven days between January 15 and January 25, with daily supplies ranging from 170 kg to 255 kg. All consignments will be delivered to the Wildlife Rescue Centre in Wazirabad.

On an average day, around 200 to 400 kg of meat will be distributed across locations, with approximately 20 kg used at each site. The tender specifies that the meat must be supplied in 20 to 30-gram pieces, packed in five-kg packets, to ensure uniform feeding and ease of distribution.

*With PTI inputs