Birds causing problems in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON - The US military says it is seeking a private contractor experienced in falconry to control the bird population at busy Bagram air base in Afghanistan.

Military officials said there have been 125 bird strikes against aircraft taking off, landing or taxiing at the base this year, a sharp increase from last year, The Washington Post reported.

Officials have tried various methods to scare off the birds, from shooting at them to firing rockets that produce a siren-like noise.

The military says whoever is hired can choose their own strategy.

Among the favoured techniques is falconry. Other possibilities are pyrotechnics and bird distress audio tapes.

The Air Force also may consider seeking help from its academy in Colorado where the falcon is the school mascot and 12 live falcons are in residence along with 14 cadet falconers, three supervisors and a civilian master falconer.