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Air Force Uses Falcons to Protect Planes

Trained birds keeps nuisance birds away

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 25, 2010 8:00 AM CDT

(Newser) – The Air Force is using falcons to protect its planes, Network World reports. Unfortunately, the falcons aren't being fitted with sci-fi style lasers or missile launchers, but they perform a crucial function: protecting the aircraft from birds. Crows and other birds had become a nuisance at one Air Force base in Germany, as a fowl in the wrong place at the wrong time can seriously damage aircraft.

So Ronald Leu, an engineer on the base and part-time falconer, saw an opportunity to put his hobby to good use: several times a week he takes Gina, his 5-year-old falcon, to patrol the base. If Gina catches a bird, Leu will let her eat only a small portion—keeping her hungry so that she'll continue to hunt.

The mother Peregrine Falcon keeps a close eye as she circles her nest while staff from the World Bird Sanctuary places an identification band on her chicks Wednesday, July 11, 2007, in St. Louis.
The mother Peregrine Falcon keeps a close eye as she circles her nest while staff from the World Bird Sanctuary places an identification band on her chicks Wednesday, July 11, 2007, in St. Louis.   (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
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