Topics about Avian flu sampling, airport wildlife hazards and brown tree snakes made for lively conversation at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 2010 Washington & Alaska State Conference held for the first time at NAS Whidbey Island last week.

More than 65 people came from USDA’s Washington and Alaska staffs, including program leaders and biologists from around the country. 

Meeting every two years, conference leader Roger Woodruff of USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in Olympia, Wash., said they wanted to try something different this year.

“We have a program here (Bird Airstrike Hazard Program) with wildlife biologist Dane Ledbetter, so it seemed like a natural fit for us to come,” said Woodruff. “Our purpose is training and education, information exchange and interfacing with cooperatives like the U.S. Navy.”

Ledbetter works with NAS Whidbey Island’s Operations Department as a USDA-affiliate wildlife biologist.

“Our work is very diverse,” said Woodruff. “We deal with wildlife hazards affecting airport safety; wildlife diseases; and protecting agriculture, human and health safety, natural resources and property.”

While staged at the Officers’ Club, the group was welcomed by Capt. Jay Johnston, NAS Whidbey Island commanding officer, and received an air station mission brief by Cmdr. Dan Worra, NAS Operations Officer, who oversees the base flight line.

“It’s nice to meet people who make our mission of flying aircraft safe especially in an environment where we coexist with birds and animals,” said Worra.

A field trip Aug. 24 took them to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133 Wizards, an EA-6B Prowler squadron and Maritime Patrol Squadron (VP) 40 Fighting Marlins who fly the P-3C Orion.

There, they learned about the mission of each aircraft platform, and heard bird strike stories and how they interact with Ledbetter to report incidents.

Matt Klope, the Whidbey Island-based U.S. Navy’s overall BASH Program Manager, spoke on program changes coming soon from Commander, Naval Installations Command and Chief of Naval Operations, and how the Navy is employing biologists from USDA Wildlife Services at all naval air stations to coordinate the facility BASH Program at the local level.

“Having Wildlife Services at our facilities ensures consistency and professionalism across the program and across the nation to protect our aviators,” said Klope.

Taking advantage of the warm weather, the group held a round-robin discussion outside to share information about wildlife disease testing and trapping methods for wolves, bears and nutria, a semi-aquatic rodent.