Randolph, Schertz staff outline plan to disperse vulture roosts near Schertz Elementary to reduce bird strikes

RANDOLPH/Schertz, Texas — Representatives of the 12th Flying Training Wing at Joint Base San Antonio–Randolph told the Schertz City Council on May 20 that vulture roosts near Schertz Elementary School are elevating the risk of bird strikes for pilot training and that a multiweek or multiyear effort will be needed to disperse the birds.

At a workshop presentation, Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Sands, safety chief for the wing, said bird strikes are the largest single category of high‑value mishaps for Randolph’s flight operations. “Bird strikes are by by and large the biggest percentage,” Sands said, adding that strikes can cause damage that ranges from “relatively superficial skin damage” to holes that can cost “over $600,000” to repair.

The wing’s BASH (bird/wildlife aircraft strike hazard) program manager, Kent Farnadique, and Emmy Chan, a wildlife biologist with U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services embedded with the wing, described how vultures — especially turkey and black vultures — account for a large share of the strike risk for Randolph’s faster jet training aircraft. “Turkey vultures and black vultures are some of the highest, percentage risk,” Chan said.

The presenters described a suite of nonlethal dispersal tools they plan to use outside the base fence line in partnership with the city and the Schertz‑Cibolo‑Universal City Independent School District (SCUC ISD). Techniques include pyrotechnic “bird bangers” (no‑flash devices that produce loud sound), paintball deterrents using biodegradable paint, lasers, vulture effigies or taxidermy decoys, and manual noise‑making (clapper boards). Dispersal would be timed around sunset and could last one to two hours per evening; staff said the proposed frequency is roughly one to three evenings per week and may change by season.

Officials said they tracked birds from a landfill to a roosting area west of Schertz Elementary, sometimes finding “more than 50 vultures in a single tree.” The wing noted that vultures’ soaring and thermal behavior makes them difficult to disperse and that roost relocation may require prolonged effort. Farnadique warned that strikes can sideline aircraft for days or longer, affecting pilot training schedules: the program “is preventing us from getting our mission done to the extent of which we would like to do it,” he said.

Council members asked about noise and community impacts. Council member Westbrook asked, “Is that gonna be an issue about how loud they are?” City and wing staff said they plan public outreach and coordination with police and SCUC ISD to reduce alarm and confusion when dispersal activity occurs. Brian James, a city staff member facilitating the meeting, said the outreach aim was to “make sure you were aware of the efforts that they're gonna undertake, coming up.”

USDA staff noted current capacity limits: one wildlife services representative is conducting most dispersals now, and staffing could affect scale and frequency. Officials also said the number of vultures has fluctuated recently and that factors such as avian influenza or seasonal movement might change needs.

No formal action or ordinance was taken at the May 20 meeting; council members and staff agreed to continue coordination. City staff offered to provide written updates to council and asked that information be shared on city social media so residents recognize dispersal activity and do not mistake it for law enforcement action.

The workshop presentation included maps and strike data from January 2020 through March 2025 showing vultures as a top risk species for the wing’s aircraft types. Presenters said the effort will require cooperation across the wing, USDA, SCUC ISD, city departments (public affairs, animal care services, neighborhood services) and possibly neighboring jurisdictions.