Final Wildlife Hazard Assessment Falcon Field Airport Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona
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Final Wildlife Hazard Assessment Falcon Field Airport Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona 4800 E. Falcon Drive Meza, Arizona PREPARED BY: WITH ASSISTANCE FROM: June 2016 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Acknowledgments Successful wildlife hazard monitoring requires cooperation from many members of the airport community. Mead & Hunt, Inc. would like to thank Corrine Nystrom, Airport Manager, Brad Hagan, Operations Supervisor, and the entire staff of the Falcon Field Airport for their ongoing assistance throughout the 12- month monitoring period associated with preparation of this Wildlife Hazard Assessment. Final Wildlife Hazard Assessment June 2016 Falcon Field Airport THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Final Wildlife Hazard Assessment June 2016 Falcon Field Airport Table of Contents Page Chapter 1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Overview of Wildlife Hazards to Aircraft.............................................................................. 1 1.1.1 Safety Effects ......................................................................................................... 2 1.1.2 Economic Losses ................................................................................................... 2 1.2 Regulatory Background ...................................................................................................... 2 1.2.1 Wildlife Hazard Assessment Process and Contents .............................................. 3 1.2.2 Wildlife Hazard Management Plan ......................................................................... 4 1.3 Wildlife Hazard Strike History at Falcon Field Airport ......................................................... 5 Chapter 2. Site Background ...................................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Airport Facilities ................................................................................................................. 10 2.2 Airport Setting ................................................................................................................... 11 2.3 Wildlife Attractants in the Airport Vicinity .......................................................................... 15 2.4 Ongoing Wildlife Hazard Management Efforts .................................................................. 15 2.5 Monitoring Approach ......................................................................................................... 16 Chapter 3. Regulatory Context and Applicable Regulations ............................................................... 17 3.1 Federal Regulations Pertaining to Wildlife Management .................................................. 17 3.1.1 Clean Water Act (Sections 404, 402, and 401) ................................................... 17 3.1.2 Endangered Species Act ..................................................................................... 18 3.1.3 Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act ....................................................................... 19 3.1.4 Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act ................................................................ 19 3.1.5 Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 ........................................................................ 19 3.1.6 Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act ........................................... 20 3.1.7 National Environmental Policy Act ....................................................................... 20 3.1.8 Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management ............................................... 21 3.2 State of Arizona Laws and Regulations ............................................................................ 21 3.2.1 Arizona Revised Statute Title 17, Arizona Game and Fish .................................. 21 3.2.2 Herbicide and Pesticide Use ................................................................................ 21 3.3 Legal Status of Key Species ............................................................................................. 22 Chapter 4. Field Survey Methods ........................................................................................................... 23 4.1 Preliminary Site Reconnaissance Visit ............................................................................. 23 4.2 Twice-Monthly Wildlife Monitoring Surveys ...................................................................... 25 4.3 Small Mammal Surveys .................................................................................................... 25 4.4 Spotlight Surveys .............................................................................................................. 25 4.5 Game Camera Surveys .................................................................................................... 27 Chapter 5. Results and Discussions ...................................................................................................... 29 5.1 Avian Surveys ................................................................................................................... 31 5.1.1 All Species Combined .......................................................................................... 31 5.1.2 Waterfowl ............................................................................................................. 34 5.1.3. Starlings and Blackbirds ...................................................................................... 36 Final Wildlife Hazard Assessment i June 2016 Falcon Field Airport TABLE OF CONTENTS 5.1.4 Doves and Pigeons .............................................................................................. 39 5.1.5 Swallows .............................................................................................................. 41 5.1.6 Shorebirds ............................................................................................................ 43 5.1.7 Sparrows and Finches ......................................................................................... 45 5.1.8 Corvids ................................................................................................................. 47 5.1.9 Raptors (Hawks, Owls, Falcons, and Vultures) ................................................... 48 5.1.10 Songbirds ............................................................................................................. 51 5.2 Mammal Surveys .............................................................................................................. 52 5.2.1 Small Mammal Survey Results ............................................................................ 52 5.2.2 Night Spotlight Survey Results ............................................................................ 53 5.2.3 Game Camera Survey Results ............................................................................ 53 5.2.4 Mammals Observed During Daytime Surveys ..................................................... 54 Chapter 6. Conclusions and Recommendations .................................................................................. 57 6.1 Overall Conclusions .......................................................................................................... 57 6.2 Develop a Wildlife Hazard Management Plan/Program ................................................... 57 6.2.1 Establish a Formal Wildlife Hazard Management Program ................................. 58 6.2.2 Establish a Wildlife Hazard Working Group ......................................................... 59 6.2.3 Obtain Permits to Manage Wildlife....................................................................... 59 6.2.4 Train Personnel in Species Identification and Wildlife Harassment Procedures ........................................................................................................... 60 6.2.5 Obtain Wildlife Hazard Management Supplies .................................................... 60 6.2.6 Record and Maintain Wildlife Strike Information .................................................. 61 6.2.7 Review Land Use Changes On and Near the Airport .......................................... 61 6.3 Develop and Implement Ongoing Wildlife Hazard Management Policies and Procedures ........................................................................................................................ 62 6.3.1 Implement a Wildlife Hazard Reporting and Communications Protocol .............. 62 6.3.2 Continue to Monitor Wildlife Populations and Use Patterns ................................ 64 6.3.3 Adopt a Zero-Tolerance Policy towards Hazardous Wildlife ............................... 64 6.3.4 Improve Reporting of Wildlife Strikes and Harassment Actions and Wildlife Strikes .................................................................................................................. 65 6.3.5 Maintain Records of Wildlife Management Efforts ............................................... 66 6.4 Implement Site-Specific Recommendations ..................................................................... 66 6.4.1 Modify Habitats/Features or Monitor Locations that Attract Hazardous Wildlife .................................................................................................................. 67 6.4.2 Continue to Maintain and Inspect the Perimeter Fence....................................... 68 6.4.2 Remove Citrus