Council hires hawk handler to drive out 'unwelcome' birds from Grimsby town centre

                                                         

One of the hawks that is being engaged to swoop at other birds 

TWO Harris Hawks are being engaged to drive birds out of Grimsby town centre.

North East Lincolnshire Council today announced  that the fearsome raptors were being used in an initiative which seeks to make Top Town bird-free at least during this spring and summer.

The authority fears that if active birds' nests were found, it would be illegal to disturb them, and redevelopment of Freshney Place and the proposed new bus station off Osborne Street would be delayed.

The council is particularly targeting street pigeons and herring gulls.

What about the threat to smaller birds such as blackbirds, starlings, wagtails, robins and house sparrows which also occur in this part of Grimsby?

Says the council: "The hawks are well trained and will not attack other birds - they are purely used as a deterrent."

NELC has not revealed the identity of the hawk handler but says the birds' names are Mavric and Chief.

                                       

NELC does not want birds anywhere near its Freshney Place development site

The Grimsby News says: NELC and its partner firm Equans, will not win many friends with this initiative. Pigeons and herring gulls  bring personality and liveliness to the town centre.  Furthermore, the latter are declining so fast that they are now categorised as a red-listed species. The two hawks may be trained not to 'attack' smaller birds, but their presence will undoubtedly cause terror. For an organisation that purports to be wildlife-friendly, the council is setting an extraordinarily cruel example.