Feathers, beaks, feet and … "snarge?"

Flying Safety, Oct, 2006 by Dan Wilson

OK, before we get started, I need to warn you that this may get just a little bit graphic. We're going to discuss mangling birds and other wildlife with our aircraft or other means, then we're going to talk about picking up the little bloody pieces of meat, feathers and other unidentifiable bits. We might even sponge some of the bloody mess off our aircraft and keep it for future use. So, continue at your own peril ...

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You're still here. Good, because this is actually important stuff. All of those AF Form 853s (Air Force Wildlife Strike Report) that we fill out, along with all of those animal parts we collect, really do go to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and they really do get identified by experts in Forensic Ornithology. The Air Force uses this data in habitat management around our airfields and for building the bird avoidance models (BAM) used for planning low-level routes and such. Additionally, all of this information is also useful for designing more bird-resistant engines and windscreens.

You're asking, how you can help? Well, after your aircraft experiences a bird strike (or deer strike, or whatever), hopefully you are OK and are safely on the ground. After that, there are a few things you need to do. In order of importance, these are:

1. Fill out the Form 853.

2. Collect animal remains.

3. Take photos of the places on the aircraft that were struck.

Form 853

The Form 853 is not only a good idea--it's the law. Although it mainly pertains to birds, you have to fill it out if you hit any type of wildlife, regardless of damage to the aircraft. It's easy to fill out, so take an extra minute and be sure it's accurate. Details like time and location are very important in building the BAM we mentioned earlier. Yes, I know ... I hate paperwork, too, but you're still better off than the bird.

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Collection

Next comes the least popular part--specimen collection. Let's go over a few rules of thumb:

First, bigger is better. The experts at the Smithsonian can identify a species of bird from the tiniest bits of feather, but why make it difficult for them? If possible, take the entire bird carcass and freeze it inside a Ziploc[R] bag. Then wrap it all in newspaper and/or pack it with dry ice before mailing. The Smithsonian has already said they will accept all packages, even if they are leaking or smelly.

If sending the whole bird isn't possible or practical, get as much bird as you can. Beaks, feet, wings, etc., are all useful for identification. If possible, send whole bird pieces, as opposed to plucking feathers--this retains the fine structures in the fluffy part of the feather. For the same reason, never cut feathers off the bird. Again, Ziploc[R] bags are handy here.

If there is nothing left of the unfortunate avian except a smear of blood, don't give up yet! This mix of blood, microscopic feathers, and who-knows-what-else, is called "snarge" by the bird strike experts. First, pick out any visible feathers in the mess--tweezers are useful for this chore. Then, lightly spray the spot with water if it needs to be moistened, and then blot with a paper towel or cloth. Then, put feathers, cloth, snarge, and all in a Ziploc[R] bag for submission to the Smithsonian. The tiny feathers will be cleaned and then examined underneath a microscope, and can often be sufficient for making a positive ID. Additionally, the Smithsonian is building a DNA database that allows recognition from the smallest blood or tissue samples.

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When shipping all of these bits and pieces, please don't use tape or Post-It[R] notes around the specimens. These things tend to stick to the feathers and damage them, making identification harder.

If you hit something besides a bird, it probably does not need to go to the Smithsonian. But, if you hit something and aren't sure what it is, contact them via the phone number on the back of the Form 853, and they can most likely arrange to receive samples or photos for creature ID.

A final note on collecting: Don't be limited to sending remains found around aircraft. Wildlife carcasses discovered on or near a runway need to be collected and reported via the Form 853--the form has provisions for "Remains found on runway, aircraft struck unknown." But don't stop there! Many Air Force bases practice depredation (i.e. wildlife control by lethal means). Any depredation program should absolutely be sending samples of any species killed to the Smithsonian, along with data such as location taken from, time of day, and other pertinent details. These are especially valuable, since the Smithsonian is always looking for more specimens to fill out their collection and make species identification easier.

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Photos

You've heard it so often: A picture is worth a thousand words. Although not a requirement for BASH reporting, the Air Force Safety Center (AFSC) is always looking for recent bird strike photos, both for clarification of the incident and for future education and prevention. These can be sent via mail using the instructions on the back of the Form 853, or digital photos can be sent via e-mail along with an electronic copy of the form.