Bird/Aircraft Strike Hazard Evaluation at U.S. Naval Air Stations, CA – Under Interagency Agreements with the U.S. Navy, NWRC biologists from Fort Collins, CO, are evaluating bird/aircraft strike hazard problems at Point Mugu and San Clemente Naval Air Stations, CA, and assessing habitat modification management techniques. At both naval air stations, researchers are using a geographic information system (GIS) to record habitat types adjacent to runways and the numbers, species, locations, altitudes and local movements of birds on and near airfields. NWRC researchers also evaluated the use of the Avian Dissuader (a low-power laser hazing device) for dispersing birds at Point Mugu Naval Air Station. For three days, lasers were used to haze waterfowl, turkey vultures, shorebirds, herons, and red-tailed hawks at night. After 2000 hrs (10 PM), the laser was used successfully to haze all waterfowl species except for American coots. Additionally, while great blue herons appeared to be unaffected by the laser, white herons reacted quickly and moved to other locations. None of the species was affected by the daytime use of the laser.

RETURN