
One of two avian radars located at SEA. This one is in a ditch adjacent to the third runway.
Have you ever looked up in the sky, seen a hawk or eagle soaring, and admired the beauty? Although exciting, the birds can cause major problems for aviation.
The “Miracle on the Hudson†is a prime example of why birds and aircraft do not mix.  But what do airports do to ensure that our journeys, from one airport to the next, are safe? I recently took a tour of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and saw what their wildlife management team was doing to keep both airplanes and birds safe.

A Snowy Owl is captured at SEA, then released in the upper part of Washington state, near Bellingham – Photo: SEA
SEAÂ has been a leader in wildlife management since the 1970s, when they were the first airport to hire a dedicated wildlife biologist onto their staff. Â At the moment, Steve Osmek runs the wildlife program at the airport and has done so for a number of years. Â Previously coming from the USDA and NOAA, he gets to combine his love of animals and an interest in aviation into on job. Â It was Steve who took me around the airport and introduced me to a number of ways that the airport is helping to mitigate bird strikes.