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Bowers Field Wildlife Hazard Management Plan <br /> 2.2.2 Corvids <br /> Corvids were observed flying around the area, loafing in the grass, shrublands, and <br /> upland/pasture areas, and simply transiting over the airport. They are opportunistic <br /> feeders,eating almost anything. It is extremely difficult to remove enough of every <br /> possible food source to make a difference, but the airport should continue to ensure that <br /> tenants and neighbors keep their dumpsters closed and garbage secure. <br /> Hazing this guild and applying limited lethal reinforcement would have the greatest <br /> impact on reducing their presence on the airfield. There are ample offsite areas where <br /> this guild could thrive, if given a little encouragement to abandon ELN. <br /> 2.2.3 Raptors <br /> Reducing their prey base (mice and voles) is the best approach for reducing raptor <br /> abundance. Mowing the infield as short as possible helps to limit the abundance of small <br /> rodents but does not eliminate it. Small rodents can disperse into the infield from the <br /> areas outside the fence. Raptors were observed perched and hunting throughout the <br /> airfield and surrounding area. Hazing,trapping and translocation, and limited lethal <br /> removal are also useful methods for managing raptor abundance at airports. <br /> USDA WS recommends three methods for managing raptors at ELN. <br /> 1) Reduce the prey base. Rodenticides are available in granular form that can be <br /> mechanically broadcasted over large areas,hand applied into specific areas, and <br /> used in bait stations if required. Most airports using these products only need to <br /> apply them every 3-5 years. <br /> Even if the airport was successful in controlling rodents,raptors would continue <br /> attempting to use the area because it looks like areas where they have successfully <br /> hunted. If they are unsuccessful in foraging,they will move on in short order,but <br /> other raptors would then show up and"test the water"until they are also <br /> unsuccessful and the cycle repeats. Even though this would happen,the duration <br /> between raptors leaving and new raptors showing up could be several days to <br /> several weeks,reducing the frequency of occurrence and abundance of raptors on <br /> the airfield. <br /> a. Although not routinely observed during the WHE, reducing the rodent <br /> population would also likely reduce the attraction for coyotes and herons. <br /> 2) Hazing,trapping/translocating,and limited lethal reinforcement are additional <br /> methods to employ to deter raptors from airfields. When food is abundant, <br /> raptors will find ways to tolerate hazing, or will disperse for a short period and <br /> then return after airport staff are gone. When food is limited,hazing is more <br /> effective because raptors don't have a good reason to tolerate the harassment. <br /> Decades of trapping and translocating raptors from airports across the country has <br /> shown that about 80—90%of the birds do not return(Schafer et al. 2002, Schafer <br /> and Washburn 2016). Immature birds are naive and easily trapped. Migrating <br /> 2-12 <br /> 31 December 2024 <br />