Officials from the 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force base in Florida
are asking the local community not to feed birds on or near the base
because an increase in bird population poses a dangerous threat to
aircraft. Since January, the base experienced three bird air strikes to
aircraft, including damage to a T-38C, a KC-135R and most recently, an
F-117 during the air show. Annually, the Air Force experiences an
average of $34 million in damages from bird strikes. The Air Force also
loses, on average, one aircraft

per year due to the strikes. February 2000 file photo.
REUTERS/Handout/U.S. Air Force