Bird guides, binoculars and ballistics, BASH program keeps aircraft in flight

Photo By Master Sgt. Brittany Jones | Dave Tresham, United States Department of Agriculture wildlife biologist, disturbs birds settling in an area known as the "Green Mile," a manmade sewage runoff expanse with a lush, green environment that provides food, water and shelter attractive to wild animals at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Sept. 3, 2015. Tresham uses ballistics multiple times per day to frighten birds and other creatures away from the area in an effort to control the wildlife population near aircraft and flightline operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Brittany E. Jones)  

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

09.03.2015

Story by Tech. Sgt. Brittany Jones 

386th Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA—Growing up in Alaska, Dave Tresham, United States Department of Agriculture wildlife biologist, spent most of his time outdoors.

Traveling to school in the morning, often in subzero temperatures, was an adventure in itself. He woke up at 4:30 a.m. to maneuver a boat or snowmobile across a 2-mile lake and hike another half mile to reach his bus stop destination. Sometimes his morning trek through the thick Alaskan wilderness crossed paths with moose, bears and other creatures.

He was unaware at the time, but his robust knowledge of fishing, hunting and wildlife would eventually aid in keeping U.S. Airmen and Air Force assets safe at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.

Now, 30 years later, armed with bird guides, binoculars and ballistics, Tresham still starts his mornings at 4:30 a.m., but this time in a truck while battling temperatures exceeding 120 degrees, once again crossing paths with exotic wildlife.
The U.S. Department of Defense works with the USDA to manage a Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard program here in an effort to reduce mishaps to aircraft flying missions in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, a comprehensive strategy to conduct targeted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Tresham makes multiple rounds every day to key areas of interest to support the BASH program. He works from sunrise to sunset seven days a week, because he said he loves his job and is excited to go to work every morning. Its obvious Tresham is dedicated to his job. He can spot a slinking fox that would have otherwise gone undetected, spy a camouflaged lizard against the monochromatic desert backdrop and identify multiple bird species midflight in mere seconds.

“We use pyrotechnics and bird scaring devices,” Tresham said. “I’m using an 870 12-gauge shotgun, a basic tool of bird depredation.”

Through the use of lethal and harassment techniques, birds will leave the area.

“Once I start shooting you’ll see birds going everywhere. We’ve been dispersing a lot of birds recently,” Tresham said. “So what we’ve done is push these birds further away from the runway.”

Tresham said the C-130 and C-17 aircraft on the runway are so powerful, if a bird gets too close to the engine it is sucked in, sometimes causing damages or even worse, loss of life.

If an animal strikes an aircraft, he collects samples and feathers to send to the Smithsonian Institution Feather Identification Lab in Washington. The Smithsonian uses the DNA taken from the specimen to positively identify the species and document data to better understand bird behavior, dietary preferences and migratory patterns to aid in the reduction of aviation mishaps.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration more than 3,000 wildlife related strikes for DoD aircraft are reported annually. Strikes involving military aircraft cost the government and tax payers about $75 million per year.
“Some things that are going to keep animals around are food, cover and water, and they have all three in some areas here,” Tresham said.

Tresham said his main focus to deter birds and other critters here is habitat modification. The chief point of interest to the wildlife biologist is an overgrowing expanse known to base residents as the “Green Mile.” The manmade waste disposal facility is the sole lush and green environment for dozens of miles within the sandy desert landscape.

The area is an attractive oasis for birds. Tresham will present his modification recommendation to the Bird Strike Hazard Working Group to mitigate or alter the area in an effort to reduce the risk of bird strikes and potentially save lives.

The working group meets twice annually at a minimum, once before the spring and fall migration seasons.

Bird migration season has begun and more than 5 billion birds will fly over this region during the next few months. Tresham stressed that Airmen can’t make their home away from home an attractive place for birds to stop and hang around.

“An area can turn from an attractant to a hazard if wildlife or birds are dwelling or loafing around,” Tresham said.
Picking up trash and not providing food and water to animals will make the base a safer place for everyone.

A genuine strike hazard exists when planes and birds share the skies. Over the past quarter century, the USDA has reported 219 lives and 200 aircraft lost due to bird and wildlife strikes.

“I love animals, but I would rather shoot a bird than lose an aircraft full of people,” the small-town Alaskan boy turned international biologist said.

• Date Taken: 09.03.2015
• Date Posted: 09.24.2015 01:49
• Story ID: 177045
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)