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