There’s something a little different in the skies above Croydon this Halloween – and it’s the pigeons who might be in for a surprise!
Meet Dracula, Morgan and Drusilla, three trained hawks who have swooped into Longheath Gardens as part of a new Council pilot to tackle nuisance pigeons and help residents enjoy cleaner, more pleasant communal spaces.
The 12-month pilot will initially involve regular visits from the hawks to discourage pigeons from gathering around residential buildings. As the pigeons begin to move away, visits will become less frequent.
Pigeons cause problems when they gather in large numbers around homes, with droppings building up on balconies, walkways and other communal areas. As well as being unpleasant for residents, this can create hygiene concerns and additional cleaning and maintenance work, affecting how people use and enjoy their homes and shared spaces.
With their suitably spooky names, the three feathered enforcers are flown during controlled visits by a professional handler, with precautions in place to keep residents, children and pets safe. Their role is to deter pigeons rather than catch them, helping to reduce bird mess without causing unnecessary disturbance to people living nearby.
The Council is trialling the approach at Longheath Gardens to see how effective it is in reducing problems caused by nuisance pigeons. If successful, the Council could consider using the approach at other estates experiencing similar problems. It could also offer a more cost-effective solution in the long term.
The Council is also encouraging residents to share their ideas for improving their estates, from making better use of communal spaces to tackling everyday problems that affect where they live.
“We’re determined to make Croydon’s estates better places to live, and sometimes that means thinking a little outside the box – or in this case, outside the nest!
“Dracula and his friends are very welcome additions to our team. We’re hoping they’ll give nuisance pigeons a real fright and help residents enjoy cleaner balconies, walkways and communal spaces.
“There’s nothing spooky about wanting a clean, pleasant place to call home. We’re listening to residents and trying new approaches to tackle the everyday problems that affect their quality of life. Hopefully, Dracula, Morgan and Drusilla will prove just the trick!”
Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon
