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Bowers Field WildlrfeHazard Management Plan <br />2.2.2 Corvids <br />Corvids were observed flying around the area, loahng 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 />Hazingthis 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 />abundanie. 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 ofoccurrence and abundance ofraptors 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 Washbum20l6). Immature birds are naiVe and easily trapped. Migrating <br />31 December 2024 <br />2-t2