{"page":"\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/resources-c03aa079.css\" /\u003e\n\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/lp_boclips_stylesheets-517835be.css\" media=\"all\" /\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-title='Hawks keep London\u0026#39;s pigeons in line' data-url='/boclips/videos/5c54d6a7d8eafeecae2054c3' data-video-url='/boclips/videos/5c54d6a7d8eafeecae2054c3' id='bo_player_modal'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='boclips-resource-page modal-dialog panel-container'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='react-notifications-root'\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-header'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-type'\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fai fa-regular fa-circle-play'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\nVideo\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch1 class='rp-title' id='video-title'\u003e\nHawks keep London\u0026#39;s pigeons in line\n\u003c/h1\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-actions'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='mr-1'\u003e\n\u003ca class=\"btn btn-success\" data-posthog-event=\"Signup: LP Signup Activity\" data-posthog-location=\"body_link_boclips\" data-remote=\"true\" href=\"/subscription/new\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGet Free Access\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e for 10 Days\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e!\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-body'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-info'\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Hide resource details' class='rp-hide-info' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u0026times;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Expand resource details' class='rp-expand-info fai fa-solid fa-up-right-and-down-left-from-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Compress resource details' class='rp-compress-info fai fa-solid fa-down-left-and-up-right-to-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-rating'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='resource-pool'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-label'\u003ePublisher:\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-name'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='text'\u003e\u003ca data-publisher-id=\"30356011\" href=\"/search?publisher_ids%5B%5D=30356011\"\u003eCurated Video\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-description'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='short-description'\u003eLEADIN              London's pigeon population is being kept in line by a flying team of Harris Hawks.               While on duty the birds of prey keep King's Cross railway station and Trafalgar Square clear of their feathered foe.    ...\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='full-description hide'\u003eLEADIN\u003cbr/\u003e              London's pigeon population is being kept in line by a flying team of Harris Hawks. \u003cbr/\u003e              While on duty the birds of prey keep King's Cross railway station and Trafalgar Square clear of their feathered foe. \u003cbr/\u003e              STORYLINE\u003cbr/\u003e              High above the commuters and tourists at London's King's Cross station one worker keeps a beady eye on the bustling activity.\u003cbr/\u003e              This is Pluto - a Harris Hawk hired three times a week to scare off pigeons. He works alongside his owner and handler Max Bell. \u003cbr/\u003e              With a whistle and some enticing treats in his glove, Bell coaxes Pluto out of the station's rafters and he swoops down to meet him.\u003cbr/\u003e              Pigeons are attracted to King's Cross as it provides plenty of nooks in which to nest as well as scraps of food dropped by the thousands of passengers who pass through. \u003cbr/\u003e              But their droppings can damage buildings and are far from welcome on customers' heads - which is where Pluto comes in.\u003cbr/\u003e              Pluto is one of four Harris Hawks owned by Bell. \u003cbr/\u003e              He keeps them along with two sparrow hawks at his home in Hertfordshire, an hour outside of London.\u003cbr/\u003e              \"He (Pluto) spends most of his time on the concourse, keeping it nice and clear, keeping the pigeons off the tables. When he's not scaring pigeons he's attracting tourists and keeping everyone entertained,\" explains Bell.\u003cbr/\u003e              Here at his home, his birds get to fly around his garden, or just chill out in the aviary. \u003cbr/\u003e              His other hawks Denise, Charlie and Aria also work with Bell at King's Cross along with other famous London landmarks such as the Treasury and many shopping centres and warehouses. \u003cbr/\u003e              Charlie and Aria are currently on \"annual leave\" for a couple of months as Bell likes to rest to birds. \u003cbr/\u003e              Regarding their work with the pigeons Bell explains:\u003cbr/\u003e              \"It's a much more green way of getting rid of them rather than putting up nets and spikes which are sometimes deemed as inhumane, when pigeons get caught in nets and stuff like that.\"\u003cbr/\u003e              Harris Hawks are native to the southern states of the U.S. as well as Chile, central Argentina and Brazil. \u003cbr/\u003e              They're considered perfect for this type of work since they're the most intelligent of the raptors, with a laid back temperament which means they won't get frightened by traffic or people.\u003cbr/\u003e              Employing birds of prey to remove pigeons and gulls is becoming increasingly popular in large public spaces. London's Trafalgar Square was once famously overrun by pigeons - you could even buy food there for them. \u003cbr/\u003e              But in 2003 the then Mayor Ken Livingstone promised to clamp down on the estimated 4,000 pigeons, and hawks were subsequently introduced. \u003cbr/\u003e              Numbers reduced to around just 120 and the hawks are still employed to this day.\u003cbr/\u003e              Hiring birds of prey to scare rather than kill pigeons is seen as a natural and humane way to control their numbers. \u003cbr/\u003e              In a statement the RSPCA advises: \"There are times where using birds of prey to deter birds from nesting, roosting or feeding in an area can be an effective method, however it needs to be done in such a manner that the falconer has full control of the bird at all times and that the problem birds are not taken or injured as a result.\"\u003cbr/\u003e              Back at the station, passengers waiting for their trains eat their food without being distracted by pigeons, as well as enjoying the spectacle of a hawk flying around.\u003cbr/\u003e              \"I think it's great to see nature at work, you know to see what the hawk actually does around here to keep the pigeons away, which is nature looking after itself, but yet preserving the station. It's great fun just to sit and watch him just flying around,\" says one passenger, Colin Atkinson.\u003cbr/\u003e              Meanwhile Station Manager Laura Murphy says the pigeons virtually disappear when Pluto and his colleagues are around.\u003cbr/\u003e              \"Max is here three days a week and you can sort of tell on the weekends the pigeons start to creep back in. We think they've figured out his schedule!\" she says.\u003cbr/\u003e              She adds that she loves to watch the public's reaction: \"Everyone gets their phones out, everyone stops and points and 'Oh my God there's a hawk in the station'.\"\u003cbr/\u003e              One of the most endearing things about watching Bell and Pluto working together is their friendship. \u003cbr/\u003e              Bell has kept birds ever since he was a child and they are very much his pets as well as his job. \u003cbr/\u003e              Although Pluto clearly loves exploring the station, the pair rarely lose eye contact and are winging their way to becoming station celebrities.\u003cbr/\u003e            \u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003e              London, UK - 17 November 2017\u003cbr/\u003e              1. Wide of Pluto the Harris Hawk overlooking the departures boards at King's Cross station\u003cbr/\u003e              2. Close of Pluto balancing on rail\u003cbr/\u003e              3. Pan down as Pluto swoops from ceiling to his owner Max Bell\u003cbr/\u003e              4. Mid of Pluto flying from rail to Bell and back again\u003cbr/\u003e              \u003cbr/\u003e              Hertfordshire, UK - 17 November 2017\u003cbr/\u003e              5. Various of Bell collecting Pluto from his cage at his home and putting him in van to transport to King's Cross station\u003cbr/\u003e              6. SOUNDBITE (English) Max Bell, Hawk handler\u003cbr/\u003e              \"This is Pluto, he's a Harris Hawk, he goes into King's Cross station three days a week to scare the pest birds and feral pigeons from inside the station. He spends most of his time on the concourse, keeping it nice and clear, keeping the pigeons off the tables. When he's not scaring pigeons he's attracting tourists and keeping everyone entertained.\"\u003cbr/\u003e              7. Wide of Pluto flying down to Bell from his garden shed\u003cbr/\u003e              8. Point of view (GoPro shot) of Pluto flying down to Bell from his garden shed\u003cbr/\u003e              9. Various of Bell's three other Harris hawks, Denise, Aria and Charlie, which he flies at King's Cross, at home in his aviary\u003cbr/\u003e              10. SOUNDBITE (English) Max Bell, Hawk handler\u003cbr/\u003e              \"As long as he doesn't actually get hold of a pigeon there's no cruelty at all. He just chases the pigeons out. It's a much more green way of getting rid of them rather than putting up nets and spikes which are sometimes deemed as inhumane, when pigeons get caught in nets and stuff like that.\"\u003cbr/\u003e              11. Close of Pluto's claws on Bell's glove\u003cbr/\u003e              12. Mid of Pluto on Bell's glove\u003cbr/\u003e              \u003cbr/\u003e              Trafalgar Square, London, UK - 13 November 2017\u003cbr/\u003e              13. Wide of Trafalgar Square, London\u003cbr/\u003e              14. Close of pigeon\u003cbr/\u003e              15. Various of pigeons outside The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square\u003cbr/\u003e              \u003cbr/\u003e              London, UK - 17 November 2017\u003cbr/\u003e              16. Various of Pluto flying to Bell from departure boards\u003cbr/\u003e              17. Bell talking to Pluto on rail UPSOUND (English) \"Stop cleaning your beak on there. He's trying to clean his beak but he shouldn't be doing it on there.\"\u003cbr/\u003e              18. Bell talking to passengers at station about his hawks, with Pluto swooping overhead UPSOUND (English) \"I normally use the females, the males can be a little bit more nervous so they get spooked a bit more easily than a female would.\"\u003cbr/\u003e              19. SOUNDBITE (English) Bill Hall, train passenger\u003cbr/\u003e              \"It's actually fantastic to see it and my appreciation of the bird and the beauty of the bird, obviously it stands out for itself. I also think it's good for people who probably are city dwellers to see something from out in the wild performing as it does here to scare the pigeons.\"\u003cbr/\u003e              20. Various of Pluto swooping to Bell\u003cbr/\u003e              21. SOUNDBITE (English) Colin Atkinson, train passenger\u003cbr/\u003e              \"I think it's great to see nature at work, you know to see what the hawk actually does round here to keep the pigeons away, which is nature looking after itself, but yet preserving the station. It's great fun just to sit and watch him just fly round.\"\u003cbr/\u003e              22. Various of Bell and Pluto\u003cbr/\u003e              23. SOUNDBITE (English) Laura Murphy, Station Manager, King's Cross station\u003cbr/\u003e              \"You can tell the difference, Max is here three days a week and you can sort of tell on the weekends the pigeons start to creep back in. We think they've figured out his schedule! So yeah, you can definitely tell the difference. He's been here for what an hour now and they've already all gone, which is amazing.\"\u003cbr/\u003e              24. Pluto flying off a departures board\u003cbr/\u003e              25. Pan up from train passengers to Pluto balancing on rail\u003cbr/\u003e              26. SOUNDBITE (English) Laura Murphy, Station Manager, King's Cross station\u003cbr/\u003e              \"Watching the birds fly through here and the public, everyone gets their phones out, everyone stops and points and 'Oh my God there's a hawk in the station'. Yeah it's really fun to watch people's reactions as he swoops over their heads, it's really cool.\"\u003cbr/\u003e              27. Max chatting to a curious train passenger as Pluto swoops overhead \u003cbr/\u003e              28. Close of Pluto flying off rail and swooping around station\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='action-container flex justify-between'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' aria-label='Read more description' class='rp-full-description' type='button'\u003e\n\u003ci class='fai fa-solid fa-align-left'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cspan id='read_more'\u003eRead More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-report'\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='resource-details-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='resource-details-heading'\u003eResource Details\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-resource-details clearfix'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eCurator Rating\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan class=\"star-rating\" aria-label=\"3.5 out of 5 stars\" role=\"img\"\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star-half-stroke text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-regular fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt class=\"educator-rating-title\"\u003eEducator Rating\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"educator-rating-details\" data-path=\"/educator_ratings/rrp_data?resourceable_id=471728\u0026amp;resourceable_type=Boclips%3A%3AVideoMetadata\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"not-yet-rated\"\u003eNot yet Rated\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eGrade\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd title=\"Grade\"\u003eHigher Ed\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eSubjects\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"/search?grade_ids%5B%5D=259\u0026amp;search_tab_id=1\u0026amp;subject_ids%5B%5D=1216220\"\u003eAll Subjects\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eMedia Type\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"/search?grade_ids%5B%5D=259\u0026amp;search_tab_id=2\u0026amp;type_ids%5B%5D=4543650\"\u003eNews Clips\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eSource:\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eDate\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e2017\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fai fa-solid fa-language'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eAudiences\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"/search?audience_ids%5B%5D=371079\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=259\u0026amp;search_tab_id=1\"\u003eFor Teacher Use\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\u003cdd class=\"text-muted\"\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-lock mr5\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e2 more...\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='concepts-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='concepts-heading'\u003eConcepts\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='clearfix'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='details-list concepts' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator' data-type='concepts'\u003enets, males, business, time, europe, work, western europe, birds, nature, animals, london, england\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='concepts-toggle-buttons' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' class='more btn-link' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-down ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='true' class='less btn-link' style='display: none;' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow Less\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-up ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='additional-tags-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='additional-tags-heading'\u003eAdditional Tags\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='clearfix'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='details-list keyterms' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator' data-type='keyterms'\u003eclean, cross, transportation and shipping, rail transportation industry, good, station, hawk, watch, pigeon, scare, pigeons, back, difference, people, united kingdom, week, bird, keeping, hour, days, female, industrial products and services, ken livingstone\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='keyterms-toggle-buttons' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' class='more btn-link' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-down ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='true' class='less btn-link' style='display: none;' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow Less\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-up ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='educator-ratings-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title sr-only' id='educator-ratings-heading'\u003eEducator Ratings\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"educator-ratings-root\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"all-educator-ratings-root\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"educator-rating-form-root\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-resource'\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Show resource details' class='rp-show-info' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\n\u003ci class='fai fa-solid fa-align-left'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\nShow resource details\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Video player' class='player' id='player-wrapper' role='region'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='relative container mx-auto' id='lp-boclips-visitor-thumbnail'\u003e\n\u003ca class=\"block\" data-html=\"true\" data-placement=\"bottom\" data-trigger=\"click\" data-content=\"\u003cdiv class=\u0026quot;text-center py-2\u0026quot;\u003e\u003ca class=\u0026quot;bold\u0026quot; href=\u0026quot;/auth/users/sign_in\u0026quot;\u003eSign in\u003c/a\u003e or \u003ca class=\u0026quot;bold text-danger\u0026quot; data-posthog-event=\u0026quot;Signup: LP Signup Activity\u0026quot; data-posthog-location=\u0026quot;body_link_boclips\u0026quot; data-remote=\u0026quot;true\u0026quot; href=\u0026quot;/subscription/new\u0026quot;\u003eJoin Now\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\" data-title=\"Get Full Access\" data-container=\"body\" rel=\"popover\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Play video: Hawks keep London\u0026#39;s pigeons in line\" href=\"/subscription/new\"\u003e\u003cimg class=\"resource-img img-thumbnail img-responsive z-10 lp-boclips-thumbnail w-full h-full lozad\" alt=\"Hawks keep London\u0026#39;s pigeons in line\" title=\"Hawks keep London\u0026#39;s pigeons in line\" onError=\"handleImageNotLoadedError(this)\" data-default-image=\"https://static.lp.lexp.cloud/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/missing.png\" data-src=\"https://static.lp.lexp.cloud/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/missing.png\" width=\"315\" height=\"220\" src=\"data:image/png;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAD/ACwAAAAAAQABAAACADs\" /\u003e\n\u003cspan aria-hidden='true' class='flex justify-center items-center bg-white rounded-full w-16 h-16 absolute top-1/2 left-1/2 -mt-8 -ml-8 cursor-pointer z-0 border-2 border-primary drop-shadow-md lp-boclips-thumbnail-playBtn'\u003e\n\u003ci class='fa-solid fa-play text-primary text-3xl ml-1 drop-shadow-xl'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n"}