Charleston Air Force Base

In May of 2003 Charleston AFB hired Flyaway Farm and Kennels to run their BASH program.  They hired Flyaway Farm and Kennels because of our unique combination of expertise in wildlife biology and highly trained handlers and border collies. We are able to offer solutions to a wide range of problems and are able to research and develop creative answers to issues that provide long term solutions.  We are continuing to work towards decreasing the number of birdstrikes at Charleston and providing the most accurate and current information for the BASH team to make the airfield environment safer for flying.

The primary concern at Charleston AFB is wading birds, including egrets, herons and ibises. These birds are resident year round with larger numbers in the area during the breeding season. The birds are attracted to the insects and frogs in the grasses and drainage areas near the flight line.  Cattle egrets are a particular concern as they often feed in large flocks behind the mowers on the airfield.  

u We patrol the airfield and use border collies as the primary control method for egrets, ibis and herons.  The dogs work behind the mowers to harass the cattle egrets and prevent them from feeding.  If the egrets are not allowed to eat, they will move on to other sources of food away from the airfield. 

u This harassment is augmented with pyrotechnics and limited depredation to reinforce the idea that there are better places to eat than on the airfield. 

u We have recommended changes to mowing and airfield maintenance that will decrease the number of insects available to the egrets and that will also help minimize the presence of egrets and herons on the airfield by removing the available cover for wading birds    

We have seen a dramatic reduction in the number of cattle egrets present on the flightline.  When we started in the spring of 2003, in the months of May and June, over 3000 cattle egrets were harassed on the airfield.  After being in place for one year, only 550 cattle egrets were harassed during this same time frame in 2004.   Each year since then the number has stayed below 300 birds and the flock size averages less than 7 birds compared to an average flock size of 15 birds at the end of June 2003.  The year-round presence of the dogs and our persistent harassment of the birds have decreased the number of egrets that were feeding on the airfield and has in turn decreased the attraction of the field to birds arriving during the breeding season and their young.  We have also seen a decrease in the number of birdstrikes at Charleston.   In the first 5 months of 2003, before we started at Charleston AFB, there were 10 birdstrikes on the airfield at Charleston.  In the same time period, January through May, of 2004, there were only 4. 

Small changes can make major improvements to the airfield environment and can significantly decrease the risk of a birdstrike.  Our employees have the education and experience to identify these issues and discover the most effective solutions.  were extremely common on the airfield at Charleston. 

u We recommended changes in airfield maintenance that included more frequent and better-timed clearing of all the ditches on the airfield that were ideal nesting areas for Red winged blackbirds. 

u We have decreased the number of pigeons on the airfield through a program of trapping and depredation and made recommendations for modifications of the hangers that would make these areas less attractive to roosting pigeons.  We are also involved in management and control of mourning doves and starlings, including a very quick response to the mistaken seeding of a section of the airfield with millet.

u We also have implemented coyote and deer control programs at the airfield. 

We are constantly monitoring the area for changes in bird numbers and movement, migration of new species to the area, and the current and projected threat to aircraft safety.  We are able to inform airfield management and the tower of large flocks moving through the area and give exact locations of these threats so that they can make informed decisions about aircraft movement to decrease the risk of a birdstrike.  This is particularly important at this very busy, joint-use airfield. 

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