In Venice there are hawks to stop seagulls and pigeons

In recent years, seagulls and pigeons have increased in numbers in Venice, as in many other Italian cities, including Rome. Since they are natural predators, their numbers are increasingly driven by the widespread litter, both from tourists and the bad habits of residents. In Venice, especially in St. Mark's Square and in areas near highly frequented monuments and museums, a method has been found to contain pigeons and seagulls: hawks.

This natural deterrent, which does not involve killing any birds, appears to work, as hawks are raptorial predators and only their presence It's enough to scare away potential prey. Furthermore  pointed silhouette and the hawk's large eyes make it immediately recognizable as a threat. To the point that seagulls and pigeons in Venice They have now learned to deal with the danger posed by hawks and avoid areas where they might be found.

The service, managed by professional falconers hired by the municipality of Venice, works like this:

• The hawks are coming brought to specific strategic points on roofs or terraces.
• They are made fly at regular intervals, often several times a day, especially during peak tourist hours.
• The seagulls and pigeons they see the predator in flight and tend to move away from monitored areas.
• Each flight session lasts a few dozen minutes.
• The effect is of immediate deterrence and in the long term: birds associate certain areas with risk and avoid them.

On the other hand, there is an ecological benefit: no birds are harmed or killed, poisons and chemical traps are not used, waste released by seagulls and pigeons is reduced, and the risk of damage to the city's historic buildings is reduced.

In Scientific studies In falconry programs to drive seagulls away from landfills, the integrated use of falcons has drastically reduced their numbers over the years (from over 1 million to a few tens of thousands per day over the long term).