25 JUNE 1976 TACANA TEST DEMONSTRATION

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Animal Partners
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06638340
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: September 6, 2019
• Document Release Date: September 12, 2019
• Publication Date: June 4, 1976

Approved for Release: 2019/07/30 C06638340
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ORD 1228-76
4 JUN 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR: Chairman TACANA/TCT
SUBJECT 25 June 1976 TACANA Test Demonstration
REFERENCE DDO/SED Memo 7 May 1976, Title SE Comments
on TACANA and OTS/SDB Memo 154-76
TACANA Rrogram.
1. In response to OTS/SDB memo 154-76 issued by the
TACANA/TCT Chairman, the TACANA program test to be com-
pleted on 25 June will exercise the following Avian
capabilities:
a. Clandestine acclimatization.
b. A-B-C flight behavior with search from A to B
and clandestine release at A.
Two other program tasks will be accomplished subsequent to
the test to be completed on 25 June. These tasks involve
investigating several retention times for the A-B-C be-
havior and the impact of a major location change (2500 miles)
on operational behavior.
3.3(h)(2)
6.2(d)
2. The procedures listed below will be followed in
preparation for the 25 June test.
a. Present Avian training of A-B-C flight behavior,
including clandestine release at A and search behavior at
A for B, will continue. The training will include clan-
destine release at point A, which will be located two to
three miles from target B, search-oriented flight to target
B (in a direction that is opposite from the return flight
to the home loft) landing on the target and obtaininv-iiic-
tures of the target and the target area, and, finally
returning 50 miles to the home loft located in
Oklahoma.
b. On approximately-28 May 1976,a collateral effort
will be undertaken in Oklahoma, to determine if
the Avian assets can be acclimatized to a new geographical
location on a clandestine basis. To accomplish this task,
CL BY
E2 IMPDET
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approximately ten additional birds will be moved from the
2alifornia to the Oklahoma training area
via airtreight. These birds will be based in a simulated
second-story loft and their only view of the outside world
will be provided through screens mounted in the housing of
an air conditioner. These birds" will be acclimatized in the
field. These procedures will include exercise releases and
return to the home loft through the air conditioner until
homing training is started. During homing training, the
initial release distance will be at least one mile. However,
at least one or two birds will be taken from the home loft
after acclimatization and transported to a distance of
50 miles for their first release. Even though the birds
are not expected to be able to perform such a task, it
will be important to demonstrate the extent to which such
an initial homing release is feasible.
3. The results of the acclimatization procedures and the
operational A-B-C behavior (including Avian camera photographs
of the target area) will be demonstrated 25 June 1976. This
demonstration will be arranged to enable the NIO/SA and any
other designated visitors to observe the test from the various
A-B-C positions.
4. On the assumption that the 25 June test will be success-
ful, a new training/test site will be prepared for the birds
by the end of June (possibly California).
and the COTR will travel to to make a final
determination of the area interim test site. The
birds will be transported to this new test site "black," ac-
climatized and trained to "home" by clandestine means, and
tested on A-B-C behavior against a simulated target. Upon
satifactory performance of this task, a short period of rein-
forced target training will be accomplished to strengthen the
"flight-to-target" behavior prior to moving the birds to
Washington, DC. The move to Washington.will be completed during
the first week of August.
5. We agree that the test procedure described in the
TCT Chairman's memorandum can possibly provide a number of
preliminary answers to questions regarding the retention
time of the target search behavior. Therefore, the, following
test schedule will be adopted for activities following arrival
in Washington, DC.
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'Activities
a. Clandestine acclimatization
b. A-B-C flight test Kit #1
c. General bird maintenance
d. Flight test Kit #2
e. General bird maintenance
f. Flight test Kit #3
Weeks
Cumulative
Time
Weeks
4
4
1
5
2
7
1
8
2
10
1
11
Completion of the Washington full-scale test in this manner
should enable us to develop some preliminary information on
the impact that varying time lapse between training and per-
formance can have on performance of the A-B-C task.
'Donald Reiser
Acting Director of Research and Development
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