Sacramento County Airport System
Wildlife Hazard Management Program
Hazardous Wildlife Control at
Sacramento International Airport
Sacramento Environmental Commission – September 20, 2010
Page 1
SCAS Mission Statement
Consistent with our community’s values, we will operate,
maintain, and develop the County Airport System in a
safe, convenient and economical manner.
We will be a leader in the airport industry by exceeding
expectations and providing customer service second to
none.
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Aerial View of SMF, May 2004
 Most of the land south of I-5 and north of Elverta Road to Sutter
County is undeveloped Airport property.
• Includes some parcels in Sutter County, such as Rio Ramaza
 Buffer land was acquired to ensure land use compatibility with
aircraft operations (no housing), and will remain undeveloped.
Page 3
SMF Critical Zone and 5-Mile Radius
10,000-foot
Critical
Zone
Five-Mile
General
Zone
Page 4
FAA Can Require a Wildlife Hazard Management
Plan (WHMP) If Conditions Warrant
 Purpose
•
Describe the tools the airport will use to control and reduce the threat of airfield
incursions by hazardous wildlife and collisions between wildlife and aircraft.
 Rules & Regulations
 Wildlife Identification & Training
 All of the Items in the Wildlife Hazard Assessment (WHA)
•
•
•
Current strikes, control actions and observations (12 months)
Trends, abundance in habitat types, seasonal variances
Recommended action items for reducing wildlife hazards
 Passive and Active Management Techniques
•
•
•
Wildlife Population Management
Habitat Modification
Land Use Changes
Page 5
Sacramento International WHMP
 First WHMP for SMF was approved in 1992.
• Wildlife strikes at SMF between 1988 and 1992 averaged
19/year, but air traffic volume was much lower then.
 1996: First major revision approved by FAA.
 Major update began in 2005, completed 2007.
 Professional Wildlife Team of Biologists
• County Airport System – 3 positions
• Contracted USDA – APHIS – WS – 1 position
Page 6
FAA Is Focusing On the SMF Hazardous
Wildlife Situation
 Despite the resources deployed, FAA has
determined that the SMF bird strike risk
remains serious (based on reported strikes):
• Ranks #1 in FAA Western - Pacific Region
• Ranks #6 in the nation
• Ranks #2 in the nation for damaging strikes
 SMF is currently under scrutiny by FAA,
which has informed County Airport System
that improvements are needed.
Page 7
Hierarchy of SMF Wildlife Hazard Management
 Habitat Modification and Management
(Passive measure)
• Goal: reduce wildlife attraction.
• Regular, ongoing maintenance of vegetation.
 Harassment (Active measure)
• Deter birds and mammals from returning to the airport by
making their experience unpleasant.
 Removal (Active measure – always last resort)
• Identify the proper measure to eliminate the individual as a
hazard from the airport.
Page 8
Habitat Modification to Reduce Wildlife
Attraction to Airport
 Installed 2-foot below-grade concrete barrier on new west
perimeter fence & culvert grates to exclude coyotes and feral dogs
 Allowed all tenant agriculture leases to expire in 2007 because
FAA discourages agriculture on airport land.
• Virtually all crops attract birds because of seeds, fruit, and post-harvest
crop remnants.
• Plowing, disking and siphon (flood) irrigation can induce invertebrate
activity that attracts birds.
 Review landscaping plans to avoid fruit-bearing trees and trees
with predominantly horizontal limbs that facilitate roosting/nesting
 Oppose landfills and other non-compatible land uses on or near
airports
• Standing water and retention basins (defined as holding water more than
48 hours)
• Sewage and drinking water treatment plants
• Lakes at housing developments
Page 9
Land Management Activities
 Ditch Maintenance
 Upland Vegetation Management
Page 10
Mowing To Reduce Bird Attraction
FAA-prescribed
vegetation height
is between 6-12
inches
Page 11
Animal Behavior Modification
 Physical exclusion devices
 Auditory scaring devices
 Repellents
 Visual scare devices
Pyrotechnics
Auditory Scare Device
Propane Cannon
Page 12
Animal Behavior Modification
Examples
Page 13
Animal Behavior Modification
Examples
Page 14
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Depredation
Permit Allows Lethal Removal
 Current permit in effect until Sept 2010
• Applied for and reviewed annually
 Establishes conditions for taking, trapping or relocating
migratory birds
 Includes conditions for complying with Migratory Bird Treaty Act
 Authorizes methods of take
• Euthanasia
• Lethal traps
• Egg addling/destruction
• Shooting (most common)
• Toxicants
Page 15
Hazardous Species of Most Concern - SMF
 Waterfowl
 Gulls
 Sparrows, Larks, and Finches
 Raptors
 Swallows
 Blackbirds & Starlings
 Corvids
 Columbids (doves and pigeons)
 Wading Birds (White-faced Ibis, Great Egret, Heron)
 Shorebirds (Killdeer)
 Other Avian Species (Turkeys, Pheasants, Quail)
 Mammals & other Non-Avian Species
Page 16
Questions and Answers
Mallard
in Wing
Page 17
End of Presentation – Next slides to assist with questions
Page 18
Professional Wildlife Team

Sacramento County Airport System (3 positions)




Senior Natural Resource Specialist

Coordinates Wildlife Hazard Management Program under direction of Manager
– Planning and Environment

BS, Wildlife Management
Environmental Specialist III

BS, Biology

USFWS-approved Biological Monitor for Construction Projects and
Maintenance Activities
Planner III

BS, Fisheries and Wildlife

MS, Urban and Regional Planning (Environmental)
US Department of Agriculture – APHIS – Wildlife Services (1 position)

Wildlife Biologist
All Wildlife Team Personnel meet the
US Office of Personnel Management Qualification Standards for
GS-0486 Series Wildlife Biologist
Page 19
Sensitive Biological Resources Training
 Wildlife Hazard Management Training –
Required by FAA
• Includes: Species, Regulations, and Management Tools
• Annual 8-hour training by qualified staff biologist meeting FAA
requirements.
 Environmental Awareness Training for Airport
System Maintenance staff
• Swainson’s hawk, Western Burrowing Owl, and giant garter snake
• Bi-annual training by staff biologists
 Net Effect: training three times/year by
experienced wildlife biologists.
Page 20
Bird-Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) Risk is
Increasing in North America
 Airports are typically located in flat, open areas
needed for aircraft approach, departure zones and
circling airspace.
• Such areas often include wetlands that attract birds.
 Most aircraft now have just 2 engines, resulting in
greater consequences from bird ingestion, as shown
by US Airways Flight 1549 on January 15, 2009.
 Increased population of some bird species most
hazardous to aircraft. Example: Canada Goose.
 Aircraft are getting quieter and faster; birds are less
able to detect an approaching aircraft.
Page 21
Increasing BASH Risk - continued
 Growing dominance of low-fare airlines means more
people are flying, and therefore more flights.
 More wildlife refuges and preserves are being created.
Many are near airports.
 Wetlands are receiving greater protection because of
federal Clean Water Act, which has benefited wildlife.
 Banning of certain pesticides has provided protection
to birds, allowing population increases.
Sources: (1) Wildlife Hazard Management at Airports – A Manual for Airport Personnel; FAA and USDA Wildlife Services, 2nd Edition, July
2005. (2) “Striking Developments,” Airport Magazine, June/July 2007.
Page 22
FAA BASH Database - USA
Reported
Annual Bird
Strikes
Winter months (Nov –
March) are highest
period at SMF
(migratory bird
season), followed by
June – August (small
non-flocking birds
such as swallows)
Page 23
Active Management Techniques
 Non-lethal Techniques
 Lethal Techniques
Identify
Problem
Monitor
Problem
Assessment
Assess
Potential
Actions
Provide
Assistance
Choose
Appropriate
Actions
Exhibit 5-1 WS General Professional Action Model
Page 24
Ranking of Species Groups Nationally
Relative to Aircraft Hazard
Ranking based on 3 criteria,
using FAA National Wildlife
Strike Database, January
1990 – April 2005:
 Damage
 Major damage
 Effect-on-flight
Ranking Order:
 Deer
 Vultures
 Geese
 Cormorants/Pelicans
Ranking Order (continued):
 Cranes
 Eagles
 Ducks
 Osprey
 Turkeys/Pheasants
 Herons
 Hawks
 Gulls
 Rock pigeons
 Other birds and mammals
Page 25
Memorable Bird Strikes - SMF
 22 November 1996
• MD-80 climb; fan blade & engine damage
 Gulls, Runway down ½ hr
 25 February 2000
• B-737 takeoff; damage 7 fan blades & plugged air cooler
 Unknown species
 8 December 2004
• MD-80 climb; random wing damage (punctured/dented)
 Northern Pintail, $200,000
 24 November 2005 (Thanksgiving Day)
• A-320 climb; damage to radome, nose, engine, fuselage
 Northern Pintail, $110,000
 28 December 2005
• B-737 climb; engine damage, passengers transferred to new flight
 Unknown species, $210,400
Page 26
Conclusion
 Hazardous wildlife presents a clear and (now) well understood risk
to the traveling public.
 Consistent with our Mission Statement, the Sacramento County
Airport System has implemented a comprehensive program for
protecting the traveling public, and relies upon all of the tools
available to us to reduce the risks associated with hazardous
wildlife.
 State legislation has been enacted (SB 481) to clarify in the Fish
and Game Code that airports are allowed to deploy those
measures permitted under their federal fish and wildlife permit
(depredation permit) issued by the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS).
»
Revised 2-5-09
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