From the US Navy aboard the USS Harry S Truman:
When the words foreign object debris (FOD) come to mind the last thing someone thinks about is an owl. On the morning of March 17 on board USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), an owl is exactly what was found. What might have been a mishap, ended on a happier note thanks to a few Sailors’ attention to detail.
“I was the safety behind the 300 jet. That’s why I probably ended up there first,” said Aviation Structural Mechanic (Equipment) 3rd class Jeremy Smith, a Sailor attached to the “Ragin’ Bulls” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 37.
He was called over by Aviation Electronics Technician Airman Apprentice Tony McJohnston, also part of VFA 37. What they found was a screech owl.
Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd class Zachary Gorman who is attached to Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron (HS) 7, the “Dusty Dogs,” is a licensed falconer in the U.S. He was called to the scene to check the status of the bird.
“When I got there, I checked him over to make sure he didn’t have any broken wings and if he was dehydrated or malnourished,” said Gorman.
Gorman and the flight deck medical team nursed the owl, or “Fod” as Flight Deck Control liked to call him, back to health by giving him a shot of sugar water to help rehydrate him.
Gorman said after treating the bird they found no life-threatening problems.
“For the most part the bird was healthy, just a little tired,” said Gorman. He also made sure “Fod” was okay in a box the crew dubbed his makeshift “stateroom.” Gorman has been working with birds of prey since the age of 12 and said he was more than happy to help the animal.
“I’ve worked with a lot of owls throughout the years, but I never thought I’d have to deal with one on a carrier in the middle of the Gulf” said Gorman.
The owl could not reside on board indefinitely so they came up with another plan.
(Gouge NC and Aero-News)
– Christian
Canada had one of these stowaways back in Dec 2007. HCMS Preserver, I think. It’s becoming a trend…
Links are here:
http://springboarder.blogspot.com/2007/12/solving-recruitment-problems.html
What was the other plan? Did they release it, eat it or what? Don’t leave me hangin’ man?
The USN’s happy end of the owl is in the navy news story (the 2nd “From the US Navy…” URL at beginning of Christians entry): flown off the ship and released on land. Though edible, the owl probably wouldn’t have amounted to any sufficient meat mealwise.
Hooters on a bird farm! What they won’t do for morale!
LoL great story.
But Christian… a falconer doesn’t handle Owls…
Saying a falconer handles owls is like saying a Lion Tamer handles Elephants
(j/k)
Whats next?
.
an FOD check that turns up a PS3
O RLY?
YA RLY!
NO WAI!
I suspect fowl play.
I had a very good conversation with 2 falconers this weekend. Falconers do not just handle falcons. They also handle hawks and kestrels (as a start) and then progress to falcons and other raptors. In that situation, a falconer would be the best person since they are very trained in caring for and handling wild birds.
Well,
It is a bird farm!
For those of you on active duty, keep a zero bubble.
Pete Smith
I had two owls show up in my sheet-metal shop when I was serving in the Sinai, I always thoguht they were pretty cool.