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Article: Air Force base uses falcons for safety's sake
- Article from:
- Charleston Gazette
- Article date:
- September 17, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2000 Charleston Gazette. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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McGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. - Before any jets here take flight,
the falcons fly. Every day, as dawn spreads over the long runways
separated by broad grass fields at McGuire Air Force Base, a handler
with a falcon gripping his black leather mitt steps into the middle
of the expanse.
The handler radios the flight-control tower to notify them of his
presence. Then he peels off a small, leather hood - which looks much
like early aviators' headwear - that blinds the falcon, lets go of
the leather jesses attached to anklets on the falcon and whips his
arm forward into the wind to launch the bird.
For two years, this scene has played out at least five times a