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Air Force uses ancient practice of falconry to prevent disaster
Holly Bridges, Air Force News (CF), 9 Jan 07
Article Link
The recent opening of the Above Ground Complex at 22 Wing North Bay did more than mark the start of a new era in North American aerospace defence. It also paid homage to a Canadian Air Force member killed in the line of duty, under circumstances that may not be that well known or understood by many Canadians, inside or outside of the military.
Sergeant David Lindsay Pitcher was a crewmember aboard a 962d Airborne Air Control Squadron (AACS) E-3, Yukla 27, which crashed in Elmendorf, Alaska on September 22, 1995.
What many people may not realize is the aircraft crashed because five Canada Geese were sucked into the aircraft's engines. Bird strikes, as they're called, may sound harmless enough, but when they happen, they can be catastrophic and deadly.
Since 1995, the Elmendorf and Anchorage communities have beefed up their Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) programs, making them among the most active bird strike prevention programs in the world, according to the United States Air Force "Airman" magazine.
The Canadian Air Force has quite an aggressive bird strike prevention program across Canada using a variety of wildlife control methods, including the 3,000-year-old practice of falconry. 12 Wing Shearwater and 8 Wing Trenton, for example, use falconry to control birds and wildlife.
Al Adams, the "bird man" or falconer, of 8 Wing Trenton, uses "nature to control nature" on the airfield, choosing mostly falcons to control seagulls, birds and other wildlife that might be tempted to venture near his territory. That can mean using falcons or hawks to attack and kill wildlife individually when necessary, or over the longer term, use the predators to "send a message" to wildlife in the area to stay away.
"Put falcons or hawks on or around an airfield, and you can actually create a void. Other birds just know not to go there. We can clear the airfield pretty quick," says Mr. Adams. "Falcons are the lords of the sky. There is no better way to control wildlife to my mind. When you put a bird of prey out there you get a long-lasting effect."
Birds of prey such as falcons are hunters, predators and carnivores, so they live off the meat of other animals. Known for their excellent vision, strong hooked beaks specialized for slicing meat, and feet equipped with powerful claws. "Falcons reinforce the predator/prey relationship," says Mr. Adams.
8 Wing Trenton has about six birds of prey on the payroll, including Rose, Fearless, Herc, Santa's Little Helper, Skydiver and one that has yet to be named.
"We try and fly each bird every day," says Mr. Adams. "We have the birds' diets adjusted so they're ready at different times of the day. Some we can fly for two or three hours, get 40 or 50 flights out of them while other birds, depending on their training and species, we might get six or 10 flights. In the summer time we generally have a bird with us every day, everywhere we go, either in the truck or out on the airfield."
While to some, the idea of working with birds in the great outdoors, may sound like fun, - and it is, says Mr. Adams - the real reason for the job is serious stuff – to prevent disaster and potentially save lives.
"You could definitely say that's what we do. It's a great job. I've always loved working with birds since I was a young boy. No two days are alike. It's a dream come true."
Shared in accordance with the "fair dealing" provisions, Section 29, of the Copyright Act.
Air Force uses ancient practice of falconry to prevent disaster
Holly Bridges, Air Force News (CF), 9 Jan 07
Article Link
The recent opening of the Above Ground Complex at 22 Wing North Bay did more than mark the start of a new era in North American aerospace defence. It also paid homage to a Canadian Air Force member killed in the line of duty, under circumstances that may not be that well known or understood by many Canadians, inside or outside of the military.
Sergeant David Lindsay Pitcher was a crewmember aboard a 962d Airborne Air Control Squadron (AACS) E-3, Yukla 27, which crashed in Elmendorf, Alaska on September 22, 1995.
What many people may not realize is the aircraft crashed because five Canada Geese were sucked into the aircraft's engines. Bird strikes, as they're called, may sound harmless enough, but when they happen, they can be catastrophic and deadly.
Since 1995, the Elmendorf and Anchorage communities have beefed up their Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) programs, making them among the most active bird strike prevention programs in the world, according to the United States Air Force "Airman" magazine.
The Canadian Air Force has quite an aggressive bird strike prevention program across Canada using a variety of wildlife control methods, including the 3,000-year-old practice of falconry. 12 Wing Shearwater and 8 Wing Trenton, for example, use falconry to control birds and wildlife.
Al Adams, the "bird man" or falconer, of 8 Wing Trenton, uses "nature to control nature" on the airfield, choosing mostly falcons to control seagulls, birds and other wildlife that might be tempted to venture near his territory. That can mean using falcons or hawks to attack and kill wildlife individually when necessary, or over the longer term, use the predators to "send a message" to wildlife in the area to stay away.
"Put falcons or hawks on or around an airfield, and you can actually create a void. Other birds just know not to go there. We can clear the airfield pretty quick," says Mr. Adams. "Falcons are the lords of the sky. There is no better way to control wildlife to my mind. When you put a bird of prey out there you get a long-lasting effect."
Birds of prey such as falcons are hunters, predators and carnivores, so they live off the meat of other animals. Known for their excellent vision, strong hooked beaks specialized for slicing meat, and feet equipped with powerful claws. "Falcons reinforce the predator/prey relationship," says Mr. Adams.
8 Wing Trenton has about six birds of prey on the payroll, including Rose, Fearless, Herc, Santa's Little Helper, Skydiver and one that has yet to be named.
"We try and fly each bird every day," says Mr. Adams. "We have the birds' diets adjusted so they're ready at different times of the day. Some we can fly for two or three hours, get 40 or 50 flights out of them while other birds, depending on their training and species, we might get six or 10 flights. In the summer time we generally have a bird with us every day, everywhere we go, either in the truck or out on the airfield."
While to some, the idea of working with birds in the great outdoors, may sound like fun, - and it is, says Mr. Adams - the real reason for the job is serious stuff – to prevent disaster and potentially save lives.
"You could definitely say that's what we do. It's a great job. I've always loved working with birds since I was a young boy. No two days are alike. It's a dream come true."
More for Birdmen here www.peregrine-foundation.ca
