SEATAC, Wash. — As part of an annual program, airport wildlife biologists will relocate dozens of raptors, or birds of prey, from land around the airport’s perimeter to other locations that won’t be a risk to aircraft.
The procedure involves a climber going up a tree and picking raptors, such as red tailed hawks, out of their nests.
Read more about the raptor strike avoidance program here.
To avoid bird strikes throughout the year, Sea-Tac also uses strategically located traps that are designed for the humane live-capture of many species of raptors, including bald eagles.
Trained wildlife airport staff then receive an alert via a satellite transmitter to allow quick removal of the trapped bird.
Staff then remove the captured birds by hand. They are then carefully hooded, placed in a kennel, and tagged for tracking to prepare for their release about 70 miles north of the airport in the Skagit Valley.
Birds are then released to suitable forests or agricultural locations.
The Port of Seattle traps and relocates nearly 100 raptors every year.
As of Sept. 2014, more than 650 raptors had been successfully relocated with the return to Sea-Tac Airport near zero since the start of the program, according to the Port of Seattle.
Nationwide, aircraft-wildlife strikes are the second leading cause of aviation fatalities, according to 2003 data from the FAA.
Cox Media Group
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