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Bowers Field Wildl ife Hazard Management Plan 2.1.2 Habitats and Attractants USDA WS surveyed 8 habitat types (primary surfaces) available at the airfield. Upland/pasture, grassland, pavement, woody/tree, water, mixed, shrub, and human-made structures. Upland/pasture, grassland, pavement, woody/tree, and water were the most used, respectively. These areas accounted for roughly 822 acres (Table 1). Water was one of the least abundant resources, yet it was the most attractive habitat at the airfield (Figure 12) and attracted more blackbirds and waterfowl than all other guilds combined. Table 1. Available acreage of each primary sruface (habitat tJrp€s) suveyed at Bowers Field. Figure 12. Water was the most significant attractant of hazardous wildlife identified during the WHE. Most notable was pond V in the nofih pasture (Figures 9 and l l)' Pond V, in the north pasture area (Figure l), with its vegetation in and along the shoreline, was responsible for attracting morehazardous 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. Prirnarv Sulface Acres UplandPashue 52s Grassland 195 Pavement 93 Woodv/free 5 Water 4 Grand Total 822 Abundance and Frequency of Occurrence of Hazardous Wildlife Observed per Acre of Habitat at Bowers Field Woodlancl Cir;rsslartd Upland/PastLrre Paverttr:ntWatetr'! LJ 6 3 0 1:i 17 f'requrrrrr:y cli [ ]r:curcnct: l\ it u n ti;'r rt c.c 3l December2024 2-9