The City of Avalon’s Pest Bird Abatement program by On the Wing Falconry comes to an end Oct 15. The question of how to afford further gull and pigeon control remains in the air, though the hawks will be grounded.
The entire program now hinges on finding adequate long-term housing for the birds and their handler. As anyone who tries to move to Catalina knows, housing is tight. The first thing you are asked in a job interview here is, do you have a place to live?
The City of Avalon’s Pest Bird Abatement program by On the Wing Falconry comes to an end Oct 15. The question of how to afford further gull and pigeon control remains in the air, though the hawks will be grounded.
The entire program now hinges on finding adequate long-term housing for the birds and their handler. As anyone who tries to move to Catalina knows, housing is tight. The first thing you are asked in a job interview here is, do you have a place to live?
Finding appropriate housing for seven birds of prey is even trickier than for humans. For safety and health, the raptors need: enough space between them to not get tangled, well-drained ground, fresh water, protection (from the elements and curious animals and humans), and some freedom to stretch their wings.
A footprint of 1,500 square feet is sought for the “weathering” and “mews” enclosure.
Their handler, Master Falconer Rocky Post, needs a small house adjacent to the birds so he can monitor and care for them. The Abatement Team has been in temporary housing owned by the city, and which was never intended to be a long-term solution.
The City program is evolving by necessity into a community-wide program. Avalon beaches were in jeopardy when On the Wing Falconry was hired last October by part-time City Manager Steve Hoefs. He made it his priority to address the water cleanliness issue.
When Hoefs stepped down as City Manager in April 2013 the Catalina Islander reported that, as per State Water Board order, “by April 2016, there should be no beach closings or postings warning swimmers that the water might be unhealthy to swim in.”
Hoefs recognized publicly that “the beach postings have had a negative influence on tourism to the Island” and that “one of the reasons he expects to see improvement is the falcon program, in which the city hired a falconry service to drive off nuisance birds whose waste was adding to the overall pollution of Avalon Bay.”
Hoefs was right. There was an immediate improvement, as is illustrated clearly on the Heal the Bay website (healthebay.org) in the Beach Report Card data area. In October 2012 the decade-long F ratings given to Avalon beaches suddenly improved, and today our beaches are rated A+ for cleanliness.
The city’s year-long gamble on the Falconry Program paid off and now they would like to share the costs of continued nuisance bird maintenance in an across-the-board cooperation. “Our challenge is fiscal,” new City Manager Ben Harvey said. “I inherited a budget with a $2.5 million deficit. I really have to look at everything and figure out ways to economize.”
So far the Santa Catalina Island Company has expressed a willingness to contribute to protect their properties; Descanso Beach, The Blue Water Grille, and the Pavilion. The Conservancy is considering how the Falconry Program might mesh with their education and ecology mission. The Chamber of Commerce has been approached to see what form of support the affected business owners might be able to offer. The last link to be forged in the partnership is with the general public, both local and visiting.
“I’m open to all kinds of creative solutions,” Harvey said. “Just from a sheer wonder standpoint, those birds are unbelievable. It’s a great interest piece for our visitors. People love it. The falconry program fits into everything we’re trying to do over here in a natural way, which I think is awesome.”
If appropriate housing can be found for the Abatement Team, negotiations about cost sharing and raptor-related eco-education can continue. Call (323) 513 4144 or email rocky.post@yahoo.com with any leads or ideas on how to save the Pest Bird Abatement program.
Cynthia Shelton writes for the Catalina Islander and is a Falconer-in-Training with On The Wing Falconry.
