To curb an ongoing problem of winged scavengers picking off food waste at Metro Central transfer station in northwest Portland, facility operator Recology has brought in some feathered reinforcements.
The company has hired Airstrike Bird Control to drive off the mass of gulls, European starlings, crows and pigeons that gather on the transfer station roof, feed on the food scraps that later arrive for processing and generate a lot of droppings, which can corrode equipment, pollute stormwater and pose a human health risk.
According to Metro staff, the population of scavenging birds at Metro Central has been increasing since well before the October launch of food waste collection for residential waste customers in Portland.
Launched this week, the abatement project uses licensed, experienced falconers and permitted, trained hawks or falcons to deter the pest birds from roosting and eating at the facility. The process provides a way to chase off the unwanted visitors with minimal disruption to daily operations.
The bird patrols, safe for workers and customers, are scheduled for an initial two-month run and possible follow-up visits as needed. Tillamook County launched a similar project in May 2011, drastically curbing the pest bird nuisance at its transfer station.
"Pest birds are 'hard-wired' to be terrified of raptors – falcons and hawks – which are their natural enemies," Airstrike says on its website. "Pest birds never get acclimated to raptors, while they will get used to noisemakers such as propane cannons, shotguns or recorded calls."
Winter marks a perfect time to spot hawks and other birds of prey in the Willamette Valley. Though the abatement project is unavailable for public viewing, explorers young and young at heart can enjoy Metro’s Raptor Road Trip 2012 on Feb. 4 at Sauvie Island. The annual celebration of bald eagles, hawks and other raptors includes guided bird-viewing and more with local naturalists and hawk experts.