JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (AP) -- It doesn't sound good and it doesn't look good.
But the dead stuffed birds hanging from the water tower in Jacksonville are saving lives.
The Jacksonville Daily News reported officials have hanged the stuffed carcasses of turkey vultures from the water tower to keep the living turkey vultures away.
And keeping live turkey vultures away makes it safer for pilots at New River Air Station who want to avoid being hit by the big birds. City officials say there used to be dozens of birds on the tower.
Turkey vultures have a wingspan of up to 6 feet and can weigh as much as four pounds, enough to cause serious damage to the cockpit or engine of aircraft.
About 30 bird strikes were reported at New River last year.
