ACR MLG TRACK HDG DEV ON DEP FROM CVG.

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ON TKOF RWY 18R AT CVG A FLOCK OF BIRDS FLEW UP IN FRONT OF THE ACFT JUST PRIOR TO ROTATION. WE CONTINUED THE TKOF. TWR HAD CLRED US TO TURN TO 205 DEG HDG AT THE 18R MIDDLE MARKER. AS WE WERE CLEANING UP THE ACFT PRIOR TO MIDDLE MARKER; THE FO SAID 'WE HAVE TAKEN ONE THROUGH THE R ENG.' I CHKED THE INSTS AS WE STARTED THE TURN. TWR CALLED TO CONFIRM THE TURN TO 205 DEG. WE INFORMED THEM OF THE BIRDS ON THE RWY AS THERE WAS LNDG TFC. THE FO WAS TAPPING ONE OF THE ENG GAUGES AND I RECHKED THE INSTS. I ROLLED PAST 205 DEG AND CONTINUED TO ABOUT 250 DEG BEFORE SATISFYING MYSELF THAT WE HAD NOT INGESTED ANY BIRDS IN THE ENG. I TURNED BACK TO 205 DEG. TWR CALLED AT THIS TIME AND ASKED IF WE HAD A BIRD STRIKE. WE REPLIED IN THE NEGATIVE AND CONTINUED THE FLT. THE FO IS NEW; ABOUT 4 MONTHS AND ABOUT A YR AND A HALF OUT OF MIL FIGHTERS. BASICALLY; HE WAS THINKING OUT LOUD WHEN HE SPOKE; NOT REALIZING HIS STATEMENT MIGHT MISLEAD ME. HE LATER SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW WE HAD MISSED THE BIRDS AND THAT WE HAD FLOWN THROUGH A SWARM ON HIS SIDE. HE ALSO SAID HE HAD NEVER HAD A BIRD STRIKE OR MANY ENCOUNTERS DURING HIS MIL CAREER. WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT COCKPIT COM DURING CRITICAL PHASES OF FLT AND I AM SATISFIED HE UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF TIMELY AND ACCURATE COM. CVG TWR DID NOT COMMENT ABOUT THE TURN PAST 205 DEG; AND I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO TELL THEM WHAT HAPPENED.