Barksdale Air Force Base officials break out pyrotechnics to fight birds

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. — Vultures on the flight line at Barksdale Air Force Base in north Louisiana are causing a problem, prompting officials to bring out the pyrotechnic screamers.

The Times reports those noisemakers aimed at scaring away the birds make a loud whistling noise and base officials say they’re similar to fireworks.

Officially, the operation is called a Bird and Animal Strike Hazard operation, or BASH for short. Two different types of vultures are typically seen in Louisiana — the black vulture and the turkey vulture.

The base says the birds pose a safety hazard to ingoing and outgoing aircraft and are destructive to base property.

The screamers began operating Monday and will be in effect through Friday.