01.13.2025 PW SS Briefings - Laserfiche WebLink

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Bowers Field Wildlife Hazard Management Plan 2.1.2 Habitats and Attractants Table 1. Available acreage of USDA WS surveyed 8 habitat types (primary surfaces) each primary surface(habitat available at the airfield. Upland/pasture, grassland, types) sim.-eyed at Bowers Field. pavement,woody/tree,water,mixed, shrub, and human-made structures. Upland/pasture, grassland, Primary Surface Acres pavement,woody/tree, and water were the most used, land/Pasture 525 respectively. These areas accounted for roughly 822 Grassland 195 acres (Table 1). Water was one of the least abundant Pavernent 93 resources,yet it was the most attractive habitat at the Woody/tree 5 airfield(Figure 12) and attracted more blackbirds and waterfowl than all other guilds combined. Water 4 Grand Total 822 WildlifeAbundance and Frequency of Occurrence of Hazardous Observed per of . • Bowers Field Frequency15 Occurence Abundance 12 Woodland GrasslandUpland/PasturePavement Figure 12. Water was the most significant attractant of hazardous wildlife identified during the WHE. Most notable was pond V in the north pasture(Figures 9 and 11). Pond V, in the north pasture area(Figure 1),with its vegetation in and along the shoreline, was responsible for attracting more hazardous wildlife than all other areas combined. Ducks were observed loafing, feeding, flying into, and flying out of pond V. Once temperatures dropped low enough to freeze this pond(and other areas of permanent and temporary standing water),waterfowl presence was negligible. When it appeared to be thawing(but still had a thin sheet of ice over it),hundreds of ducks were observed circling over the pond, apparently trying to determine if they could access it. This activity posed a significant strike threat to aircraft in the pattern. 2-9 31 December 2024