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Hawk kite being trialled
17 April 2012
Scarborough Borough Council’s Environmental Health officers are
trialling a new way to deter pigeons and seagulls nesting at
Scarborough Cricket Ground.
A hawk kite has been erected to disrupt the birds and deter them
from roosting and nesting on the north stand of Scarborough Cricket
Ground.
Often used as a type of bird scaring method by farmers to
protect their crops this involves a hawk shaped kite which flies
from a large pole. The kite swoops, dives and climbs in the wind,
appearing like a real hawk. Many species of bird are naturally
afraid of predators such as birds of prey and the kite exploits
this instinctive fear which makes them restless and unlikely to
build nests in the surrounding area.
Steve Pogson, Scarborough Borough Council’s Health and Community
Safety Manager said:
“The council is always willing to try new techniques to resolve
the seagull and pigeon infestations of the town from causing damage
to buildings and a nuisance to people and their property. The hawk
kite is being used on a trial basis for a couple of weeks to see if
it does stop the birds nesting at this location. We hope it will
prove successful so we can use this method elsewhere in the
borough.”