Falcons "Dive and Drive"

  • Published
  • By Technical Sgt. Mary Beth Bemis
  • 349th Public Affairs
Travis Air Force Base, Calif. --  Did you know that the female peregrine falcon is 1/3 larger than the male? Or that the peregrine is sometimes referred to as the "duck hawk?" Me neither, until I had the opportunity to speak with Mike Bierman, a master falconer with the World Bird Sanctuary and caregiver of the falcons on Travis Air Force Base, Calif. For those of you who don't know what the B.A.S.H. program is, it is the acronym for the humane bird control program (Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard) at Travis.

The B.A.S.H. program has been in place at Travis AFB since 1998. Every day an hour before dawn and an hour after dusk, the bird of prey handlers release the falcons near the air field to help discourage other birds and water fowl from flying around and nesting near the runways.

"The birds see the falcons in the air," said Mr. Bierman, "and then they spread the word to the rest of the bird community that danger is near. It helps eliminate the instances of damage to the jets, and problems that can arise when birds are too near the air field."

Sixteen birds of prey are housed on Travis AFB. They consist of the peregrine, lanner, saker and barbary falcons. Each type of falcon serves a different purpose. The peregrine is aggressive and known as the fastest creature on earth, achieving a maximum dive speed of 242.3 mph! However, a dive or "stoop" usually averages about 185 mph, and the peregrine's favorite food is duck and water fowl. They are used mostly during the winter when Travis is visited by a large migratory population. The Barbary Falcon, is a smaller falcon, about the size of a crow. They are mainly used for smaller birds, such as swallows and starlings. The Lanner Falcon is a larger bird of prey known for attacking birds horizontally in flight, sometimes head-on. They are used mostly to control the seagull population that the landfills at either end of the runway seem to attract. And last but not least, the Saker Falcon, also referred to as the desert falcon. Along with the Lanner Falcon, they are best suited for the hot summer weather at Travis AFB.

The falcons are definitely doing their job. The monthly average of bird strikes were 58 percent lower in 2005, as compared to the 10 years prior to their arrival here at Travis. In addition to controlling the incidents of bird strikes, the Air Force is also interested in studying and determining what exactly attracts the birds to the air fields. It is the responsibility of each air field and facility with a flying mission to ensure safe airspace for aircraft and bird alike. As the Air Force implements BASH prevention programs worldwide, they are finding that it is vital for safe air operations and it is also assisting in the preservation of certain bird species. So as the Air Force and BASH continue to work together, both men and birds fly together over Travis AFB in harmony.