Latest news with #HarrisHawk
CTV News
13-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Birds of prey used to keep other birds away from Muskoka landfill
'Hara' a Harris hawk watches over the District of Muskoka's landfills with handler Andrew Carroll with Royal Canadian Falconry. Using birds of prey to manage bird mitigation isn't a new thing but it is new to the District of Muskoka and some of its landfills. For the second year, Andrew Carroll with Royal Canadian Falconry out of Haliburton has been called on to bring his birds to help reduce health risks, property damage and even unwanted bird attacks on staff. Today, he's at the landfill in Bracebridge with 'Hara,' a Harris hawk he started training seven years ago. 'Falconry based bird control is using trained birds of prey like eagles, falcons, or hawks like Hara here to deter nuisance birds from specific locations. There is an abundance of gulls in the area these are gulls, and they are causing a disturbance for the workers,' said Carroll. Falcon at landfill 'Hara' a Harris hawk watches over the District of Muskoka's landfills with handler Andrew Carroll with Royal Canadian Falconry. (CTV News/Rob Cooper) The birds can also be a hazard to district staff because of the diseases they can carry. While the birds of prey will attack the unwanted birds at times, they mostly just help keep the birds away by fear. 'The instinct from the gulls is to leave the area because they don't want to be eaten by the predator,' said Carroll. 'In the past, the district has tried difference noise deterrents, they've tried decoys, different floating ribbons that are meant to detract different birds and they all were very temporary,' said Renee Recoskie with the District of Muskoka. 'They still kept coming back and they kept growing in concern, so this, so far, has been the only program we've seen it sort of better off for us.' Falcon at landfill 'Hara' a Harris hawk watches over the District of Muskoka's landfills with handler Andrew Carroll with Royal Canadian Falconry. (CTV News/Rob Cooper) 'It's very effective on sites like this where it's the gull's main food source. You are going to have to be here a lot because they are going to want to come in and eat every single day,' explained Carroll. And that is why they are here with the birds of prey almost every day during the summer. The program costs about $80,000 a year but the district says it is incredibly effective. As for the company that runs the birds, it says it does offer educational classes to the public out of its Haliburton office.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hawk that attacked bald men is adopted by a bald man
A Harris Hawk that attacked bald men in a village has been adopted by a bald man. The bird of prey, nicknamed 'Bomber Harris', attacked over 50 people in Flamstead, Hertfordshire, during a four-week reign of terror in March. A falconer who helped trap the hawk previously told The Telegraph the bird 'saw bald men' and attacked them because it was 'hormonal'. But the bird has now been adopted by Wayne Housden, a falconer who has recently had a buzz cut. The 58-year-old village warden told The Telegraph that Bomber had changed – pointing to the fact he could shave his head without fear of attack. 'If you looked at me now, you'd say, 'he's bald',' Mr Housden said. 'I'm not worried about him. I've shaved my head and, when I shaved it, it was to the bone. 'But I go into his aviary and he doesn't attack me.' Mr Housden, who lives near Flamstead, described his new friend as 'really tame', adding: 'He wasn't terrible. He was more scared than anything when he was caught. 'I can kiss him on the head. He nibbles around my neck and on my chin... He's so friendly to me. He's obsessed with me.' For four weeks last year Flamstead ground to a halt. Postmen stopped delivering mail, fearful scaffolders left work unfinished and villagers would not dare leave their homes without a hat, umbrella or hooded coat to protect themselves. The siege was finally brought to an end when Steve Harris, 40, threw a cage over the bird after it followed him into his back garden. The physiotherapist and father-of-two, who had been returning from a run, told The Telegraph that he and his children had not been in their garden for 'weeks and weeks' because of the attacks. Credit: BBC/Roy Lambden Mr Housden, who also owns another falcon, said that he had decided to adopt the bird after the police contacted him for help. Bomber is now housed in a new £1,000 aviary which was built by Mr Housden. The falconer said the idea that the bird might attack someone again was 'always in the back of your head' but added that 'he's got to go loose'. He said that he has already started taking Bomber on excursions, including a visit to his friend's house. 'He's calmed down', Mr Housden added. 'He needed to calm down.' Asked whether he thought the bird was misunderstood, he said: 'Yes he was. 'He's going to be going to a scarecrow festival in Flamstead and he will end up meeting everyone that he's hit on the head, so they will all see how he's changed.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Hawk that attacked bald men is adopted by a bald man
A Harris Hawk that attacked bald men in a village has been adopted by a bald man. The bird of prey, nicknamed 'Bomber Harris', attacked over 50 people in Flamstead, Hertfordshire, during a four-week reign of terror in March. A falconer who helped trap the hawk previously told The Telegraph the bird 'saw bald men' and attacked them because it was 'hormonal'. But the bird has now been adopted by Wayne Housden, a falconer who has recently had a buzz cut. The 58-year-old village warden told The Telegraph that Bomber had changed – pointing to the fact he could shave his head without fear of attack. 'If you looked at me now, you'd say, 'he's bald',' Mr Housden said. 'I'm not worried about him. I've shaved my head and, when I shaved it, it was to the bone. 'But I go into his aviary and he doesn't attack me.' Mr Housden, who lives near Flamstead, described his new friend as 'really tame', adding: 'He wasn't terrible. He was more scared than anything when he was caught. 'I can kiss him on the head. He nibbles around my neck and on my chin... He's so friendly to me. He's obsessed with me.' For four weeks last year Flamstead ground to a halt. Postmen stopped delivering mail, fearful scaffolders left work unfinished and villagers would not dare leave their homes without a hat, umbrella or hooded coat to protect themselves. The siege was finally brought to an end when Steve Harris, 40, threw a cage over the bird after it followed him into his back garden. The physiotherapist and father-of-two, who had been returning from a run, told The Telegraph that he and his children had not been in their garden for 'weeks and weeks' because of the attacks. Mr Housden, who also owns another falcon, said that he had decided to adopt the bird after the police contacted him for help. Bomber is now housed in a new £1,000 aviary which was built by Mr Housden. The falconer said the idea that the bird might attack someone again was 'always in the back of your head' but added that 'he's got to go loose'. He said that he has already started taking Bomber on excursions, including a visit to his friend's house. 'He's calmed down', Mr Housden added. 'He needed to calm down.' Asked whether he thought the bird was misunderstood, he said: 'Yes he was. 'He's going to be going to a scarecrow festival in Flamstead and he will end up meeting everyone that he's hit on the head, so they will all see how he's changed.'
South Wales Argus
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Why people across Ebbw Vale are getting new ‘owl tattoos'
Harry Morgan, 23, has been a tattoo artist for the last three years and operates under the business name Lucky H Tattooist. Now, he's designed at least seven different owl and bird of prey style tattoos with all proceeds going to the Ebbw Vale Owl Sanctuary. Local tattoo artist Harry Morgan creator of 'Owl Ink' (Image: NQ) Speaking of what inspired his owl themed ink Harry said: 'I used to go there when I was a kid, because my house where I have grown up was about a ten-minute walk from there. 'So, I've always wanted to try and do something to give back and I had the idea for a while and just as I started to put it all together that's when the vandalism happened.' A barn owl tattoo by Lucky H Tattooist (Image: NQ) The Owl Sanctuary is kept afloat with donations from the public and self-funded from the pensions of owners and retirees Pat and Malcolm Jones. Last month, Gwent Police confirmed three separate incidents of vandalism at The Owl Sanctuary in the Festival Park in Ebbw Vale. One of the incidents resulted in the toilets at the sanctuary being completely destroyed. Since then, public donations have been flying in. 'Owl ink' created by Ebbw Vale tattoo artist Lucky H Tattooist (Image: NQ) Local reaction to Harry's owl ink has been met with positive feedback. On May 19 his first "owl ink" customer opted for a Barn Owl themed tattoo. Harry says he hopes to raise at least £1,000 with his "owl ink". Birds illustrated in the 'owl ink' tattoo range includes A Steppe Eagle, Harris Hawk, Peregrine Falcon Vermiculated Eagle Owl, The European Eagle Owl, White Faced Owl and a Barn Owl. For more information on 'owl ink' click here.
