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PDX Wildlife Program January 15th, 2014

Nick Atwell Aviation Wildlife Manager

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Overview

• Program Background

• Eco-regional Context

• Four Pillars of the Wildlife Hazard Management Program

– Short-term

– Research & Development

– Long-term

– Information & Education

• PDX Risk Assessment Model

• Prey Base Management

• Raptor Trapping & Relocation

• PDX Bird Strikes

PDX Wildlife Hazard Management Program

Mission Statement:

To control aviation wildlife hazards with non-lethal means when possible

by focusing on daily dispersals and long-range habitat modifications. 3

Manchester Ringway International Airport UK

April 29th, 2007 09:15am 4

US Airways Flight 1549

January 15th, 2009

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PDX January 2001 MD-11 struck a Herring gull (body mass ≈ 2.5 lbs)

Aborted take-off. Engine destroyed. Runway closed for 3.5 hours for debris removal.

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1. Short-term: Operational Strategies Intensive hazing, trapping & relocation

2. Research and Development Prey base studies, deterrents, other research as needed

3. Long-term: Management Strategies Compatible land-use planning, habitat management

4. Information and Education

Bird Strike Committee USA/Canada, ACRP, open houses & other public events

PDX Wildlife Program

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Portland International Airport 14.5 million passengers per year

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PDX Airfield

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Local Habitat Classifications

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PDX Risk Assessment Model - 2012

PROBABILITY

Very High High Moderate Low Very Low

Very

High

Mallard Osprey

Canada Goose

Green-winged

Teal

Northern Pintail

Turkey Vulture

Wood Duck

[Bald Eagle]

[Deer]

High Red-tailed

Hawk

Great Blue

Heron

Rock Pigeon

American Crow

Gull spp.

Coyote

Great-horned Owl

Moderate

Low Barn Owl

European

Starling

Short-eared Owl Killdeer

Northern Harrier

Very

Low

American

Kestrel

Swallow spp.

SE

VE

RIT

Y

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Gray-tailed Voles, Microtus canicaudus

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Gray-tailed Voles, Microtus canicaudus

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Prey Base Research

Small Mammal Surveys are

conducted bi-monthly to

determine species composition

& density

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Prey Base Management

– Airfield is treated with:

Zinc Phosphide for voles

Dimilin and Carbaryl for grasshoppers

– All treatments are weather dependent

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0

5

10

15

20

25

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

2008

2009

PDX Insectivore Strikes 2008 & 2009

Grasshopper Treatment 8/16/08

Grasshopper Treatment 6/5/09

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ZP Application

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European Starling Trapping

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Red-tailed Hawk

Trapping and Relocation Program

1,206 Red-tailed Hawks captured and relocated since 1999 22

Marking Techniques

Individuals also identified by

age class, plumage,

behavior, and location.

PDX color bands

wing tags blue marker

USDA WS airport band 23

Nest Intervention

Red-tailed hawk hatchlings 24

Flight Cages on Sauvie Island

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Washington RTHA Relocation

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Washington RTHA Relocation

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Great-blue Herons

• Increase in Local & Regional Abundance

• Adjacent Heron Rookery

–Annual nest surveys (60 to 100 per year)

• Peak Airfield Abundance

–Young fledge in May - June

–Young & adults use PDX to forage prior to dispersing

• 50% of Heron Strikes at PDX Result in Damage to Aircraft

# o

f S

trik

es

0

2

4

6

8

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

2,400g

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Great-blue Herons

- Short grass increases hunting success

- Prey base is more visible to predators

7-14 Inches - AF Mandate

6-12 Inches - FAA Recommendation

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Physical Exclusion

Coyote Deterrent Fencing 30

Habitat Modification

Runway Safety Area Improvement Project January 1998:

Ponding water attracts waterfowl

Airfield Safety Improvement

Project: 8.25 acres of wetlands

Mitigation Site: Vanport Wetlands

January 2001:

No water and no waterfowl

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Successful

Breeding

Vanport Mitigation Site Successful Habitat for Many Wildlife Species

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Flock of Canada Geese

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Adaptive Management

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33rd Field Deterrent Fencing

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Site Conversion- HQ

Project Area

Site Conversion- Keyhole

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Site Conversion- Airfield Turf

Test Site

• Low growing grass results fewer mowings

• Decrease in airport operational impacts

• Wildlife deterrence is being evaluated

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Airport Landscaping Standards

Upright branching structure

Varying Canopy Heights

Avoid fruit, berry, and nut producing plants

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Boeing Hangars & Retention Pond

12,835 square feet

160,000 Bird Balls ®

Adaptive Management

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Hazing Tools

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Sound Cannon Replacement

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PDX Cannon Locations

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Implement Adaptive Programs

Know your Species of Concern and apply appropriate control measures

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Wildlife Access Roads

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Smithsonian Institution’s Feather Identification Lab

Microscopic structure

Feather matching

DNA analysis

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High Risk Species

Moderate Risk Species

Low Risk Species

2012 Strikes Risk Category

AMERICAN KESTREL, 5

AMERICAN COOT, 1 BAT, 2

BREWERS BLACKBIRD, 1

CEDAR WAXWING, 1

KINGLET, 1

SWALLOWS, 33

SPARROW, 1

SWIFT, 6

LARK, 1 VARIED THRUSH, 1

MOURNING DOVE, 2

UNIDENTIFIED, 4

SHORT EARED OWL, 1

STARLING, 3

BARN OWL, 3

GULL Spp., 7

MALLARD, 3

OSPREY, 3

RED-TAILED HAWK, 4

CANADA GOOSE, 3

AMERICAN CROW , 2

GREAT BLUE HERON, 2

Chart Data:

01/01/12 to 12/31/12

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High Risk Species

Moderate Risk Species

Low Risk Species

2013 Strikes by Risk Category

Chart Data:

01/01/13 to 12/31/13

2008 2009

36 20

14 10

19 69

2010

15

6

35

2011

18

12

35

2012

24

21

45

2013

19

12

42

AMERICAN COOT, 1 AMERICAN KESTREL, 4

AMERICAN ROBIN, 1 CEDAR WAXWING, 1

BAT, 1 KINGLET, 2

KILLDEER, 1

SWALLOW Spp., 26

STREAKED HORN LARK, 1

VAUX'S SWIFT, 4

MOURNING DOVE, 2

STARLING, 2

UNIDENTIFIED, 3

BARN OWL, 5

AMERICAN CROW, 1

GULL Spp., 7

RED-TAILED HAWK, 4

MALLARD, 1

CANADA GOOSE, 2

GREAT BLUE HERON, 4

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PDX Strikes per 10,000 Aircraft Operations

(# of Annual PDX Strikes * 10,000/Annual PDX Flight Operations)

Chart Data: 01/01/13 to 11/30/13

1.75

2.36

3.26

3.52

4.20

2.34

2.51

2.97

4.16

3.46

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

3.50

4.00

4.50

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

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3 2 3 5 3 1 2 1 4 3

44

61

82 88

103

52 56

64

86

70

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Non-damaging Strikes & Damaging Strike Comparison

Strikes Without Damage

Strikes With Damage 706

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Chart Data: 01/01/13 to 12/31/13

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PDX Damaging Strikes

thebirdguide.com

2004 - MALL, GBHE, OSPR

total cost ≈ $2,908,000.00

2005 - MALL

total cost ≈ $130,085.00

2006 - GBHE, MEGU, and RTHA

total cost ≈ $327,285.00

2007 - MEGU, VATH, GBHE, CAGO

total cost ≈ $69,522.00

2008 – GBHE, GRWT, RTHA

total cost ≈ $36,409.00

2009 - RTHA

total cost ≈ $8,645.00

2010 – NOPI, VATH

total cost ≈ $88,916.00

2011- GWGU

total cost ≈ $252,000.00

2012- CAGO, AMCO, RTHA, CAGO

total cost ≈ $2,146,992.00

2013- GWGU, CAGO, Unidentified

total cost ≈ $91,600

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Discussion Question:

Do you have any suggestions for program improvement or

outreach?

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Questions?

Nick Atwell

Port of Portland

Aviation Wildlife Manager

503-807-4585