Birds of Prey Provide Pest Control Services at Hampshire Hospital

For nearly a decade, a local falconry business has been successfully deterring birds from a hospital in Hampshire. Andy Crowle, owner of Urban Wings, stated that his birds of prey are also effective in preventing pigeons and seagulls from nesting around various shops and businesses. Willow, one of his Harris hawks, is primarily flown at Southampton General Hospital to create the impression among feral pigeons that she has established a permanent presence. Mr Crowle explained that, if left uncontrolled, birds can inflict thousands of pounds worth of damage and even become a health hazard. He emphasized that his hawks offer a “non-lethal” pest control solution and are “not encouraged to kill”. The company’s roster includes Harris hawks, a Saker falcon, an Indian eagle owl, and kestrels. In an interview for BBC Radio Solent, Mr Crowle revealed that Willow has been serving the hospital for approximately nine years, where pigeons were identified as “the main culprits”. He stated, “Probably over a thousand pigeons live on the site, creating about ten tonnes of poo a year.” He elaborated on the risks, saying, “At a hospital, that is quite dangerous – you’ve got patients that are obviously low immunity. “If they breathe in the dust from pigeon poo, it can lead to pneumonia.” He further noted that the birds were also “messing on the equipment on the roof”. “The hospital has got lots of air conditioning and blowers that were costing a lot of money to keep clean and sterile,” he explained, adding, “So our job was to turn up and make the pigeons believe that birds of prey have taken up residence.” Initially, he recounted, they operated five days a week, eight hours a day, deploying a team of birds. Over time, the pigeons “realised that it’s not a safe place to nest,” and their numbers began to decline after about three years. “It’s a huge commitment,” Mr Crowle stated. He warned, “As soon as you stop, within six months they would be back in nesting everywhere.” He characterized the birds of prey as primarily a “non-lethal deterrent”. He remarked, “You could hire somebody with a gun to go and shoot [unwanted birds] but that is not seen as an ethical way.” He added, “Willow hasn’t killed anything in about five years; my hawk, Freddie, who is about five or six, has never killed a living thing in his life.” “They are not encouraged to kill because it makes my job much harder,” he explained. Mr Crowle indicated that during the summer months, the company shifts its focus to gull control. He cited, “One factory was spending about £15,000 a year, tidying up after them.” He described the training process as “gradually building up the complexity”. “We start off trying to get the bird to hop to a fist for a treat,” he explained, adding, “Initially, they do not even want to come near you.” He characterized the process as “a matter of gently enticing them” and encouraging them “to fly to”. He reported receiving “lovely reactions” from individuals who encounter him and his birds in public. “I rarely get very far anywhere without being stopped for a photo,” he concluded. Readers can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.