BATTLE OF THE BIRDS

  • TURKEY VULTURE: The No. 1 struck bird, hit 776 times by Air Force aircraft and responsible for $51.7 million in damage.

  • BLACK VULTURE: The No. 2 struck bird, hit 403 times and responsible for $54.3 million in damage.

  • AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN: Caused the Air Force $257.6 million in damage with only 18 strikes. No other bird has cost the service more money.

  • CANADA GOOSE: Caused the Air Force $92.3 million in damage with only 129 strikes. They are the second most costly bird to the service.

  • MUTE SWAN: The largest bird threat to aircraft -- an impressive 31 pounds of meat and beak.

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    Information (current as January 2007) gathered from the 1st Fighter Wing Safety Office, Langley AFB, Va.; U.S. Department of Agriculture; and the Air Force BASH Team at Kirtland AFB, N.M.