Wildlife Biologist at the Smithsonian Institution Feather Identification Laboratory

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services (WS) Airport Wildlife Hazard Management Program's, local Wildlife Biologist Michael Pacheco builds his Integrated Wildlife Damage Management (IWDM) skills with a visit the Smithsonian Institution Feather Identification Laboratory in Washington, D.C., on August 24, 2018.
Part of his duties with the 12th Flying Training Wing (12FTW) Safety Office includes taking samples of "snarge" (bird remains) that are sent here to determine what type of bird hit the aircraft. The lab also uses DNA testing to make the determination. So accurate, the contents of the bird's stomach (insect to hooved animal) may be accidentally tested, showing an unlikely animal (meal) to have been hundreds or thousands of feet above the ground.
For more information and related videos, PLEASE see the APHIS-Integrated Wildlife Damage Management at JBSA Randolph album description at flic.kr/s/aHsmN6DtGH.

USDA Photo by Michael Pacheco.