Each year, civil and military aircraft strike thousands of birds. The Federal Aviation Administration annually reports at least 2,300 wildlife related strikes involving civil aircraft; the Air Force and Navy/Marine Corps report at least an additional 3,000. Strikes involving military aircraft cause in excess of $75 million in damage every year. Yet only an estimated 20 percent of actual bird strikes are reported. Because pilots and crews use the same low altitude airspace as large concentrations of birds, the prevention of bird strikes is of serious concern to the military.
The Department of Defense (DoD) continually implements and improves aviation safety programs in an effort to provide the safest flying conditions possible. One of these programs is the Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) prevention program. Throughout the military, air operations, aviation safety, and natural resources personnel work together to reduce the risk of bird and wildlife strikes through the Operational Risk Management process. Development and implementation of an effective BASH program requires constant interaction between air station's natural resources, aviation safety, and air operations communities as well as the pilots and aircrews. Habitat modifications and scaring birds away from the runways is an integral part of the answer, but understanding the behavior and movements of birds in relation to the airfield environment and military training routes by pilots and aircrews is also a critical factor in reducing bird strikes.
Knowing what types of birds and animals are using the airfield environment throughout the year is critical to reducing BASH risks. A Wildlife Hazard Assessment will identify areas of the airfield that are attractive to wildlife and provide recommendations to remove or modify the attractive feature. Corrective recommendations may include placing anti-perching devices on equipment, removing unused airfield equipment to eliminate perch sites, wiring streams and ponds, removing brush/trees, using pyrotechnics, or changing the grass mowing program.
By identifying the bird species involved and the location of the strike, researchers and airport managers can better understand why the species is attracted to a particular area of the airfield or training route. To identify birds involved in strike events, remains of the birds must be collected and turned in for analysis. If the remains are only snarge (blood, bits of tissue, and goo) or feather fragments, these are sent to the Smithsonian Institution. The Smithsonian Feather Identification Lab can do DNA analysis on blood samples as well as microscopic feather analysis. Using a feather bank developed for the military and civilian aviation communities, the Smithsonian Institution can analyze the micro-structure of the barbs from the sample to narrow down a bird involved in a birdstrike event to species. In knowing the species of bird involved in a birdstrike event, managers can investigate its habitat and food habits, and begin the process of reducing or eliminating the attractants.
Technology is also advancing BASH risk reduction effectiveness. Radar ornithology uses radar images obtained from the National Weather Service's WSR-88D Doppler radar or mobile radar units to track migrating birds and important stop over areas. GIS layers of bird radar activity can be layered with actual low level route information along with historic birdstrike data. Some of the tools using radar technology include the Bird Avoidance Model (BAM), Avian Hazard Advisory System (AHAS), and mobile marine radars that are implemented at the airfield.
Monitoring Working Group
Significant progress has been achieved in recent years to better identify an efficient, coordinated approach to monitoring avian resources. Monitoring has historically been done without much consideration for monitoring actions outside a given agency, and sometimes without a clear articulation of what management question is being targeted. With limited budgets and resources, it is imperative that we maximize the effectiveness of any monitoring project, including the archiving and analysis of monitoring data.
In February 2007, the Monitoring Sub-committee of the US North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI) released its report “Opportunities for improving avian monitoring” (http://www.nabci-us.org). The report, prepared by a distinguished panel of 16 experts in bird monitoring, emphasizes the importance of clearly understanding the management issues that monitoring will be used to address before initiating new surveys. The report establishes 4 goals and contains 4 recommendations to achieve these goals. A series of action items is also presented by which the recommendations and goals can be achieved. DoD has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with other agencies endorsing the report.
Two other notable, recent events in bird monitoring were the signing of an MOU (pursuant to Executive Order 13186) between DoD and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service “to promote the conservation of migratory birds” and the adoption of a Final Rule pertaining to “take of migratory birds by the Armed Forces”. The MOU became effective on August 30, 2006; the final rule became effective on March 30, 2007. Both measures include strong language on the importance of monitoring bird populations.
In order to effectively address the requirements set forth in the 2003 National Defense Authorization Act and Executive Order 13186, a comprehensive, coordinated avian monitoring strategy needs to be implemented. Coordinated Bird Monitoring (CBM) is a movement and an approach to monitoring, led by the landbird and shorebird initiatives, that has already produced numerous products. The vision of CBM is that monitoring should be:
- Implemented through partnerships
CBM is an effort to increase efficiency and utility of bird monitoring through improved coordination between the bird conservation initiatives, between field workers and statisticians, and between decision-makers and technical experts. Major components of CBM include improving the infrastructure for monitoring and development of Regional and Organizational CBM Plans. Improving monitoring infrastructure looks at:
- Conceptual framework (vision, goals, objectives)
- Long-term, large-scale programs (how many, what kind)
- Agreement on field survey methods
- A robust data management system
- Defining appropriate reports and the responsibilities for producing them
Navy Natural Resources and Land Management Program
The Navy and Marine Corps manage more than four million acres worldwide. Much of this land is located in sensitive wetlands along valuable coastlines, some of the most ecologically significant areas in the world. The location of Navy real estate holdings makes it imperative that the Navy plans and executes various military missions in harmony with our environment. It is a Department of the Navy goal to promote an environmental protection ethic within the Navy workforce.
The Department of the Navy supports numerous partnerships with other Federal, state, local and private resource groups to promote such programs as the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation, Wetlands Protection and Enhancement, and Watchable Wildlife.
To succeed in its mission, and to earn public confidence, the Navy must emphasize natural resources stewardship in every aspect of its land use. It does. Come see for yourself and discover our resources.
Naval Air Station Kingsville’s mission is to provide operational and support facilities for the Naval Air Training Command and associated activities. This installation consists of two main land areas totaling 9800 acres: the main air station and support facilities, and Auxiliary Landing Field Orange Grove, located about 40 miles northwest of the air station. In addition, NAS Kingsville owns and operates two practice target areas and more than 6,000 acres in McMullen County, about 90 miles northwest of the air station, and a recreational hunting facility comprising just over 6,500 acres.
NAS Kingsville’s home base is situated just west of the City of Kingsville in Kleberg County, in the Coastal Bend area of Texas, one of the most productive bird habitats in North America. Specific habitat types include laurel oak-redbay woodlands, mesquite and deciduous woodlands, meadows and saline wetlands. Because much of the air station property is surrounded by ranch and farm land, wetlands, outlying fields and runway clear zones provide natural habitat. This results in bird / airstrike hazard as a primary management concern.
Kila mwaka, ndege za kiraia na za kijeshi hupiga maelfu ya ndege. Shirika la Ndege la Marekani (FAA) limeripoti kila mwaka angalau mashambulizi 2,300 yanayohusiana na wanyama wa porini yanayohusisha ndege za kiraia, na jeshi la anga na jeshi la wanamaji la Marekani (Navy) limeripoti angalau mashambulizi mengine 3,000. Mashambulizi ya ndege za kijeshi yanasababisha uharibifu wa zaidi ya dola milioni 75 kila mwaka. Hata hivyo, inakadiriwa kwamba ni asilimia 20 tu ya ndege wanaoshambulia ndege wanaripotiwa. Kwa kuwa marubani na wafanyakazi wa ndege hutumia nafasi ya hewa ya chini kama makundi makubwa ya ndege, kuzuia mashambulizi ya ndege ni jambo la wasiwasi sana kwa jeshi. Idara ya Ulinzi (DoD) daima kutekeleza na kuboresha mipango ya usalama wa anga katika juhudi ya kutoa hali salama zaidi ya kuruka iwezekanavyo. Programu ya kuzuia hatari ya ndege za ndege za ndege za ndege za ndege za ndege za ndege za ndege za ndege za ndege za ndege za ndege za ndege za ndege za ndege za ndege za ndege za ndege za ndege za ndege za ndege za ndege za ndege za ndege. Katika jeshi, shughuli za anga, usalama wa anga, na wafanyakazi wa rasilimali za asili hufanya kazi pamoja ili kupunguza hatari ya ndege na mashambulizi ya wanyama wa porini kupitia mchakato wa Usimamizi wa Hatari ya Uendeshaji. Maendeleo na utekelezaji wa programu ya BASH inahitaji mwingiliano wa mara kwa mara kati ya rasilimali za asili za kituo cha hewa, usalama wa anga, na jamii za shughuli za hewa, pamoja na marubani na wafanyakazi wa ndege. "Kubadilisha mazingira na kuogopesha ndege mbali na runways ni sehemu muhimu ya jibu, lakini kuelewa tabia na harakati za ndege kuhusiana na mazingira ya uwanja wa ndege na njia za mafunzo ya kijeshi na marubani na wafanyakazi wa ndege pia ni sababu muhimu katika kupunguza ""mashambulizi ya ndege.""" Kujua aina gani ya ndege na wanyama ni kutumia mazingira uwanja wa ndege mwaka mzima ni muhimu kwa kupunguza hatari BASH. Tathmini ya Hatari ya Wanyamapori itafahamisha maeneo ya uwanja wa ndege ambayo yanavutia kwa wanyama wa porini na kutoa mapendekezo ya kuondoa au kurekebisha kipengele cha kuvutia. Mapendekezo ya kurekebisha yanaweza kujumuisha kuweka vifaa vya kupambana na perching kwenye vifaa, kuondoa vifaa vya uwanja wa ndege visivyotumiwa ili kuondoa maeneo ya perch, nyaya za vijito na vidimbwi, kuondoa brushes, kutumia pyrotechnics, au kubadilisha programu ya kukata nyasi. Kwa kutambua aina ya ndege inayohusika na eneo la mgomo, watafiti na wasimamizi wa uwanja wa ndege wanaweza kuelewa vizuri zaidi kwa nini spishi hiyo inavutiwa na eneo fulani la uwanja wa ndege au njia ya mafunzo. Ili kutambua ndege wanaohusika katika matukio ya mgomo, mabaki ya ndege lazima yakusanywe na kuelekezwa kwa ajili ya uchambuzi. Mifupa hiyo inapoachwa, ikiwa ni ya vipande vya manyoya au damu, inatumwa kwa Taasisi ya Smithsonian. Kituo cha Smithsonian cha kutambua manyoya kinaweza kufanya uchambuzi wa DNA kwenye sampuli za damu na pia uchambuzi wa manyoya ya darubini. Kwa kutumia benki ya manyoya iliyoundwa kwa ajili ya jamii za kijeshi na za kiraia, Taasisi ya Smithsonian inaweza kuchambua micro-muundo wa barbs kutoka kwa sampuli ili kupunguza ndege wanaohusika katika tukio la ndege kwa spishi. Kwa kujua aina ya ndege wanaohusika katika tukio la ndege, wasimamizi wanaweza kuchunguza makazi yake na tabia za chakula, na kuanza mchakato wa kupunguza au kuondoa vivutio. Teknolojia pia inaendeleza ufanisi wa kupunguza hatari ya BASH. Radar ornithology hutumia picha za rada zilizopatikana kutoka kwa WSR-88D Doppler ya Huduma ya Hali ya Hewa ya Kitaifa (NWS) au vitengo vya rada vya rununu kufuatilia ndege wanaohama na vituo muhimu juu ya maeneo. GIS tabaka ya ndege radar shughuli inaweza kuwa tabaka na halisi ya chini ya ngazi ya njia ya habari pamoja na data ya kihistoria ndege mgomo. Vifaa vya kuepuka ndege ni pamoja na ndege kuepuka mfano (BAM), ndege hatari ya ushauri mfumo (AHAS), na ndege za baharini radars. Ufuatiliaji wa Wafanyakazi wa Wafanyakazi Maendeleo makubwa yamepatikana katika miaka ya hivi karibuni ili kutambua bora mbinu ya ufanisi, kuratibu kwa ajili ya ufuatiliaji wa rasilimali ndege. Ufuatiliaji umekuwa ukifanywa bila kuzingatia sana kwa ajili ya ufuatiliaji wa hatua nje ya shirika fulani, na wakati mwingine bila ufafanuzi wazi wa nini swali la usimamizi ni lengo. Kwa bajeti na rasilimali ndogo, ni muhimu kwamba tuongeze ufanisi wa mradi wowote wa ufuatiliaji, pamoja na kuhifadhi na uchambuzi wa data ya ufuatiliaji. "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika ripoti ya Kamati ya Ufuatiliaji ya Mpango wa Uhifadhi wa Ndege wa Amerika Kaskazini (NABICI) mnamo Februari 2007, ""Uwezekano wa kuboresha ufuatiliaji wa ndege"" ni ""mfano wa hatua za juu za ufuatiliaji wa ndege.""" Ripoti hiyo, iliyoandaliwa na jopo la wataalamu 16 wa ufuatiliaji wa ndege, inasisitiza umuhimu wa kuelewa wazi masuala ya usimamizi ambayo ufuatiliaji utatumiwa kushughulikia kabla ya kuanzisha uchunguzi mpya. Ripoti hiyo inaweka malengo manne na ina mapendekezo manne ya kufikia malengo haya. Mfululizo wa vitu vya hatua pia ni iliyotolewa kwa ambayo mapendekezo na malengo inaweza kupatikana. Wizara ya Ulinzi imesaini Mkataba wa Maelewano (MOU) na mashirika mengine yanayokubali ripoti hiyo. Mkataba wa Ufuatiliaji wa Ndege wa Kimataifa (MoU) uliosainiwa na Wizara ya Ulinzi ya Marekani (DOA) na Marekani (USDA) mnamo Juni 2016. Huduma ya Samaki na Wanyama wa Pori <unk>kuendeleza uhifadhi wa ndege wahamiaji<unk> na kupitishwa kwa Kanuni ya Mwisho inayohusiana na <unk>kuchukua ndege wahamiaji na Vikosi vya Silaha<unk>. Mkataba huo ulianza kutumika tarehe 30 Agosti 2006 na sheria ya mwisho ilianza kutumika tarehe 30 Machi 2007. Hatua zote mbili zinatia ndani maneno yenye nguvu juu ya umuhimu wa kufuatilia idadi ya ndege. Ili kukidhi mahitaji yaliyowekwa katika Sheria ya Uidhinishaji wa Ulinzi wa Taifa ya 2003 na Amri ya Utendaji 13186, mkakati wa ufuatiliaji wa ndege wa kina, uliopangwa lazima utekelezwe. Ufuatiliaji wa Ndege wa Mratibu (CBM) ni harakati na mbinu ya ufuatiliaji, inayoongozwa na mipango ya ndege wa nchi kavu na ndege wa pwani, ambayo tayari imezalisha bidhaa nyingi. CBM ni juhudi ya kuongeza ufanisi na manufaa ya ufuatiliaji wa ndege kupitia uratibu bora kati ya mipango ya uhifadhi wa ndege, kati ya wafanyakazi wa uwanja na wataalamu wa takwimu, na kati ya watunga maamuzi na wataalamu wa kiufundi. Mifumo ya msingi ya CBM ni pamoja na kuboresha miundombinu ya ufuatiliaji na maendeleo ya Mipango ya CBM ya Mkoa na Shirika. Utaratibu wa Ufuatiliaji: Mfumo wa dhana (maono, malengo, malengo) - Programu za muda mrefu, za kiwango kikubwa (ngapi, aina gani) - Makubaliano juu ya mbinu za uchunguzi wa uwanja - Mfumo thabiti wa usimamizi wa data - Kufafanua ripoti sahihi na majukumu ya kuzalisha - Programu ya Usimamizi wa Rasilimali Asili na Ardhi ya Jeshi la Wanamaji na Jeshi la Wanamaji. Sehemu kubwa ya ardhi hiyo iko katika maeneo yenye unyevunyevu kwenye pwani zenye thamani, baadhi ya maeneo yenye umuhimu mkubwa zaidi wa kiikolojia ulimwenguni. """Ukubwa wa mali isiyohamishika ya Navy hufanya iwe muhimu kwamba Navy inapanga na kutekeleza misheni mbalimbali ya kijeshi kwa upatano na mazingira yetu." Ni Idara ya Navy lengo la kukuza maadili ya ulinzi wa mazingira ndani ya wafanyakazi Navy. Idara ya Jeshi la Wanamaji inasaidia ushirikiano mwingi na vikundi vingine vya rasilimali vya Shirikisho, Jimbo, Mitaa na binafsi kukuza mipango kama vile Mpango wa Usimamizi wa Ndege wa Maji wa Amerika Kaskazini, Uhifadhi wa Ndege wa Uhamiaji wa Neotropiki, Ulinzi na Uboreshaji wa Nyanda za Nyanda, na Wanyamapori wa Kuangalia. Ili kufanikiwa katika utume wake, na kupata imani ya umma, Jeshi la Wanamaji lazima lisisitize usimamizi wa rasilimali za asili katika kila kipengele cha matumizi yake ya ardhi. Ndiyo, inamaanisha hivyo. Njoo uone mwenyewe na kugundua rasilimali zetu. Naval Air Station Kingsville 'ujukumu ni kutoa uendeshaji na msaada vifaa kwa Naval Air Mafunzo ya Amri na shughuli zinazohusiana. Kituo hiki kina maeneo mawili ya ardhi ya jumla ya ekari 9,800: kituo kikuu cha hewa na vifaa vya msaada, na uwanja wa kutua wa kusaidia wa Orange Grove, ulio karibu maili 40 kaskazini magharibi mwa kituo cha hewa. Kwa kuongezea, NAS Kingsville inamiliki na kuendesha maeneo mawili ya mazoezi ya lengo na zaidi ya ekari 6,000 katika Kaunti ya McMullen, karibu maili 90 kaskazini magharibi mwa kituo cha hewa, na kituo cha uwindaji wa burudani kinachohusisha ekari 6,500. Makao makuu ya NAS Kingsville iko magharibi tu ya Jiji la Kingsville katika Kaunti ya Kleberg, katika eneo la Pwani ya Bend ya Texas, moja ya makazi ya ndege yenye uzalishaji zaidi huko Amerika Kaskazini. Aina maalum za makazi ni pamoja na misitu ya laurel oak-redbay, misitu ya mesquite na deciduous, nyasi na maeneo ya mvua ya chumvi. Kwa sababu sehemu kubwa ya mali ya kituo cha hewa ni kuzungukwa na shamba na mashamba ardhi, maeneo ya mvua, mashamba ya nje na runway wazi maeneo kutoa mazingira ya asili. Hii husababisha hatari ya shambulio la ndege la ndege kama wasiwasi wa msingi wa usimamizi.