Bird-aircraft strikes are a major concern to the entire aviation community. We developed a study to provide the Navy with information concerning avian use of agricultural lands on and near selected Nava1 bases in Arizona, California, and Nevada. With this knowledge a management program can be implemented to reduce hazardous bird-aircraft strikes. Permanent census points were established for observing flight patterns of birds at each base. In addition, transect lines were used to observe habitat use by birds in and around agricultural fields on each base. Habitat types and an estimated percent of that habitat within a 200-m radius were recorded. Habitat classifications that were more specific than those used in the current Wildlife Habitat Relationships (WHR) system (data base) were given. Percent usage of habitats was estimated for 2 study sites and compared with the WHR system. Habitat use differed by species and crop type. These differences tended to be overlooked when using the WHR classifications. Our study design can be used for determining the species composition and abundance of birds on a seasonal basis and relating that to crop types and crop phenology. Expansion of the current Wildlife Habitat Relationship (WHR) Data Base to include more specific agricultural habitat classifications is suggested.
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