A Paris neighborhood is about to spend a bit over $13,000 to rent falcons and buzzards in hopes of chasing away flocks of pigeons that annoy residents and damage roofs.
The birds, which have been used in the past to control pigeon attacks on the big Roland Garros tennis tournament, will spend 10 days in October flying around the 10th arrondissemant, hopefully frightening the pigeons to roost elsewhere. ‘Elsewhere’ may not be too happy about that.
A spokesperson for the 10e told local press that “We tried traditional methods and now we are doing something more radical. Paris pigeons are not used to birds of prey.” The birds, three buzzards and two falcons, will fly over pigeon-infested areas as a menacing presence.
