B737 flight crew reported rejecting the takeoff after experiencing a bird strike just below V1.

Attributes
ACN	1328408
Time
Date	201601
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	TPA.Airport
State Reference	FL
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737 Next Generation Undifferentiated
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 187
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 158 Flight Crew Type 610
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Ground Event / Encounter Person / Animal / Bird

Narrative:

On takeoff roll; just prior to V1; [I] observed a bird of prey; with something in its talons; lifting off from the centerline of the runway. As the bird passed close abroad the right sight of the aircraft; we heard a load bang. [I] initiated a rejected takeoff as the first officer was calling 'V1'. After aircraft was stopped; first officer informed tampa tower of our reject. [I] made a PA and told the passengers to remain seated. We decided we did not need to run any emergency checklist. We discussed brake cooling and decided we could taxi to the gate for the required brake cooling (40 minutes per the performance computer brake cooling module). We discussed the likelihood that the bird was ingested by the number two engine and elected to shut it down as we taxied. Remainder of taxi to the gate was uneventful.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 flight crew reported rejecting the takeoff after experiencing a bird strike just below V1.

Narrative: On takeoff roll; just prior to V1; [I] observed a bird of prey; with something in its talons; lifting off from the centerline of the runway. As the bird passed close abroad the right sight of the aircraft; we heard a load bang. [I] initiated a rejected takeoff as the F/O was calling 'V1'. After aircraft was stopped; F/O informed Tampa Tower of our reject. [I] made a PA and told the passengers to remain seated. We decided we did not need to run any emergency checklist. We discussed brake cooling and decided we could taxi to the gate for the required brake cooling (40 minutes per the performance computer brake cooling module). We discussed the likelihood that the bird was ingested by the number two engine and elected to shut it down as we taxied. Remainder of taxi to the gate was uneventful.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.