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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