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Bowers Field Wildlife Hazard Management Plan <br />birds, and raptors were the most abundant, respectively. Coyotes, dove, heron, songbirds, <br />shorebirds, and upland birds were observed, but with notably lower frequency of <br />occurrences and abundances. <br />Raptors <br />Raptors are the 2nd most frequently struck guild, 1990 — 2020 (Dolbeer et al. 2021) and <br />are common in central Washington throughout the year. Regionally, raptor abundance <br />increases after the nesting season and again during fall and spring migrations. <br />Raptors were documented throughout the entire area (Figure 8) and throughout the year, <br />with peaks in August and November. These months correspond to periods when <br />immature birds leave the nest and during fall migration, respectively. The fewest raptor <br />observations occurred in June, January, and February. Most adult females are sitting on <br />nests in June and July, so they are less likely to be observed flying around and hunting. <br />There is often snow on the ground in January and February, which hides their prey (small <br />rodents), forcing raptors to travel offsite to feed. <br />Raptors were most often observed individually and occasionally in pairs. <br />Figure 8. Raptor observations throughout the airfield. <br />2-5 <br />31 December 2024 <br />