Managing Wildlife at Micronesian Airports, continued

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Managing Wildlife at Micronesian Airports,
continued

• Daniel Vice
• USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services

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Presentation outline

• Overview of wildlife and aviation, including FAR
  requirements (Assessment and Plan)
• Management actions
• Documenting and reporting

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• USDA, Wildlife Services provides federal
  expertise in managing human/wildlife conflicts
  through direct control, technical assistance, and
  research and development
• MOU between FAA and USDA establishes a
  cooperative relationship for resolving wildlife
  hazards to civil aviation to benefit human safety

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The FAA requires airfields handling commercial
aircraft to address wildlife hazards if a real or
potential wildlife problem is present (FAR Part
139).
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Wildlife Hazard Assessment

• Assess species abundance, diversity, frequency of
  use over a 12-month period
• Assess wildlife attractants on and around
  airfield
• Develop recommendations to manage wildlife based
  upon the assessment

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BASIC WILDLIFE NEEDS

• Food
• Cover
• Water

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The goal of an airports Wildlife Hazard
Management Plan should be to eliminate the risk
of wildlife strikes to aircraft - The target is
zero tolerance for wildlife in the operations
environment
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Keys to successful wildlife hazard management

• Identify your risks and develop management
  strategies specific to those risks
• Use an Integrated Management approach
• Use the right equipment and people for the job
• Dont expect a silver bullet
• Be vigilant and committed

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Perceived sequence of actions under 139.337
Wildlife Hazard Management Plan
Wildlife Hazard Assessment
Wildlife Hazard Management
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The need for a Wildlife Hazard Assessment does
not preclude active management using best
available information
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Needed Sequence of Action
Operational Wildlife Hazard Management
Implement Best Management Practices
Wildlife Hazard Management Plan
Wildlife Hazard Assessment
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Developing Management Actions Before Completion
of a Wildlife Hazard Assessment

• Actions must be driven by baseline knowledge of
  risks
• In some situations, no action may present lower
  risk to aviation safety than the wrong action

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EQUIPMENT FOR WILDLIFE HAZARD MANAGEMENT

• Reliable mowing equipment
• Reliable vehicle
• 12 ga. shotgun, single shot for pyrotechnics
• 12 ga. shotgun, pump or semi-automatic, with
  ammunition
• 15 mm starter pistol for pyrotechnics
• Pyrotechnics for both shotgun and pistol
• Safe storage box for ammo and pyrotechnics
• Propane cannons
• Binoculars
• Regional bird field guide
• Live traps for dogs/cats

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Egrets versus Plovers
Traits common to both birds Migratory in Pacific
(non-breeding) Flocking Serious aviation
hazard Prefer open areas Persistent
Egrets Non-territorial Learn from lethal
control Follow mowers Roost in trees
Plovers Territorial Do not learn Roost on ground
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Egrets versus Plovers, cont
How to best control

• Plovers
• Non-lethal harassment with pyrotechnics
• Decoys, create a safe area
• Sheet water management

• Egrets
• Shooting, re-enforced with non-lethal harassment
  (pyrotechnics)
• Vegetation management

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Grass Management

• In general, short grass is better
• Plovers prefer short grass (gives better vision)
• Better than displacing birds into tarmac
• But, egrets follow mowers
• Therefore, must prioritize risks and manage for
  primary risk

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Why Report Bird Strikes?

• Encouraged under AC150/5200-32A
• Increase local awareness of risk
• Leads to species identification, which
  facilitates development of best management
  practices

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Bird Strike Procedural Matters

• Retain dead birds for positive identification
• Photograph bird(s) if cannot retain carcass
• If carcass not available, retain feather remains
  for identification submit to Smithsonian Bird
  Lab (see AC150/5200-32A)
• Report wildlife strikes via FAA Form 5200-7
• (on-line http//wildlife-mitigation.tc.faa.gov )

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REVIEW OF ACTIONS

• Assessment to identify risks
• Species abundance and use
• Habitat features that serve as attractants
• Develop management plan specific to airport
• Develop management actions specific to each
  targeted species
• Implement with vigilance
• Monitor for results and changing risks
• Do not dismiss wildlife presence as no risk

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FAILING TO ADDRESS WILDLIFE IN THE AIRPORT
ENVIRONMENT PLACES AVIATION SAFETY IN THE HANDS
OF ANIMALS
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Contacts for Assistance

• Honolulu Airports District Office
• 808.541.1232
• USDA Wildlife Services, Guam
• Daniel Vice 671.635.4400 daniel.s.vice_at_aphis.us
  da.gov
• USDA Wildlife Services, Hawaii
• Mike Pitzler 808.861.8576 mike.e.pitzler_at_aphis.
  usda.gov
• Reed-Joseph http//www.reedjoseph.com

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

• QUESTIONS?

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Brown treesnake containment on Guam
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Brown treesnake
GUAM
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Birds, Bats, and Lizards
Pets and Poultry
Brown treesnake effects

Military readiness and commercial operations
Snake Bites
Power Outages
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Prevention of snakes leaving Guam is key to
keeping other Pacific Islands and US
Mainland Brown Treesnake free
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Tools for Brown Treesnake Control
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• Currently, USDA, Wildlife Services implements a
  large scale containment program on Guam
• Over 100,000 BTS have been removed from Guams
  military and commercial ports of exit since 1994

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THE PENDING MILITARY BUILD-UP ON GUAM
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Container throughput at Port Authority of Guam
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Invasive Species

• Growth in the military sector on Guam will affect
  commercial transportation regionally
• Increased regional traffic will greatly increase
  the risk of BTS and other invasive species moving
  around Micronesia
• Intensive planning underway to meet greatly
  increased containment requirements