The Nation - News from Jan. 22, 1988

Six skinny metal scarecrows with painted frowns have been erected to guard the Air Force base at Hurlburt Field, Fla., against birds that can damage or destroy aircraft. The homemade devices, installed after a cargo plane sustained $9,100 in damage when it was hit by a bird during a flight near the base, are part of a wide Air Force effort to reduce damage caused by birds. One of the most serious accidents occurred in September in Colorado when a pelican tore through a vital spot of a new B-1B bomber, causing the $280-million plane to crash. Three crew members were killed.