A Harris’s hawk is being used to deter gulls at Whitehaven Marina.
Inca and her handler Jenny, of Fell Falconry, based in Workington, are helping to move on gulls that have been causing issues on the marina’s main pontoon.
No gulls or any other birds will be harmed by Inca, who is seven years old, instead, the gulls will be scared away from the pontoon by Inca’s presence.
Whitehaven Marina said gulls have been roosting – or resting – on the main pontoon and making the surface very slippery with droppings, resulting in safety issues for users.
It added that teams had exhausted options to make the area safer through things like daily pressure washing, before they made the decision to bring Jenny in for help.
Inca and Jenny will be at the marina for the next 10 days where they will do daily patrols at different times of day to move on the gulls and protect the main pontoon.
A Whitehaven Marina spokesperson said: “We want people to know that we are not harming the gulls in any way at all, we’re just moving them on and away from the pontoon.
“Jenny and Inca are doing the 10 days so the gulls know the hawk is not going anywhere and we’re on day three now and we can already see an improvement.”
It is the first time the marina has used a hawk to deter gulls and as the marina is a private company, Jenny and Inca’s services are being paid for by the marina.
Jenny, who has worked in falconry for 14 years, said Inca is a very intelligent and well trained bird that will not hurt other birds in the area.
She said: “Inca will not kill a gull or any other bird, it’s all about deterring the gulls. It’s not feasible to have a large amount of birds in that area of the marina, it’s all about preventing hygiene and welfare issues.
“Inca has done seven years of non lethal environmentally pest control with me and she is so incredibly intelligent, she understands how our routine works.
“Our presence alone is enough just to move them on. We’re not there to harm other birds, we’re there to protect the area and help make sure people are in a healthy and safe environment with their boats.
“It just means that area will not be a cosy space for the gulls to roost!”
People are welcome to say hello to Jenny and Inca but are asked to remain mindful and give the pair the space they need while working.
Jenny said she is passionate about educating others about birds of prey and falconry and added that she is happy to chat with interested people.
As part of her business, Jenny also does events and educational visits to places like schools and even care homes with her birds.
She said: “We’re all about educating people about birds of prey, their welfare, where they come from and what they do and falconry as a tradition.
“Everyone is welcome to come and say hello, but we may ask for space while she’s working.”
Inca is a working wild animal and cannot be petted, as this can harm her feathers, but Jenny said people are welcome to take pictures.
