Bird Hawking & Falconry Services

Rentokil offers a wide range of bird control programmes that generally fall into three categories: physical exclusion (bird proofing), behavioural deterrence (bird scaring), and population management (removal). We emphasise that an "Integrated Pest Management," approach often combining several of these methods for a single site is the best method to gain overall control.

One of our key programmes relies on triggering a bird's natural instincts to flee or avoid an area, rather than using physical barriers through the use of natural predators such as hawks.

Our solution uses nature’s instincts to protect your property. We deploy trained Raptors to patrol your site, triggering a natural "fight or flight" response in nuisance birds that forces them to relocate.

In the bird control industry, "hawking" is simply another term for Falconry.

• What happens: A professional handler brings a trained raptor to a specific site (like a landfill, stadium, or warehouse) and flies it.
• The Goal: The goal is deterrence, not hunting. The hawk is not there to eat the pigeons or gulls; its presence alone acts as a visual threat.
• The Result: The nuisance birds see a predator in their territory and instinctively flee the area to find a safer place to roost or nest.

• Wild Capture is Illegal: You cannot just go into the woods and catch a hawk. It is illegal to take wild birds of prey from the wild. All birds used for falconry in the UK must be captive-bred.
• Registration (Schedule 4): Certain rare or strictly protected species (like the Peregrine Falcon, Goshawk, and Golden Eagle) are listed under "Schedule 4" of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. These birds must be registered with the government (APHA) and ringed/microchipped.
• Welfare: Owners are legally required to provide proper care under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. If a bird is kept in poor conditions, the owner can be prosecuted and banned from keeping animals.

If a business like Rentokil is using a bird for "Hawking" (pest control), there is an extra layer of bureaucracy:

• Strict Safety: While not a "law" per se, professional pest controllers must carry specific insurance and perform risk assessments, especially when flying birds in urban environments where they could accidentally attack a pet or a member of the public.

In the UK, technically, any adult can buy and own a bird of prey without a license (unless it is a Schedule 4 species), though it is strongly discouraged without proper training.

Rentokil has strict processes and procedures to ensure that all of the birds and their handlers that operate for us are appropriately trained, equipped and maintained.

Please note that for sites with deeply entrenched nesting populations, it may take three to five years of consistent treatment to permanently displace the colony.

You aren't hiring the hawk to hunt (kill) the pigeons; you are hiring it to patrol

• A professional falconer visits your property with a Harris Hawk or other suitable bird of prey.
• They fly the bird around the area for a set period.
• The pigeons see a predator and instinctively leave the area to find a safer place to roost.
• Crucial: The hawk is trained not to catch the pigeons. It is purely a psychological deterrent.

If you hire a hawk for just one hour, the pigeons will leave immediately—but they will likely come back the moment the hawk is placed back in its van. To permanently clear an infestation, you typically need a contract involving frequent visits (e.g., weekly or bi-weekly) over several months. This teaches the pigeon colony that your site is now "predator territory" and is permanently unsafe.

• Best for: Large commercial sites like stadiums, warehouses, landfills, hospitals, or large office blocks where netting or spikes are impossible to install.
• Not ideal for: A small residential garden. The cost of repeated professional visits usually makes it uneconomical for a single homeowner compared to one-off solutions like netting or spikes.

Pigeons are relatively slow and clumsy. A Harris Hawk (the most common industry bird) works perfectly for them because it flies effectively at low levels and around buildings.

Gulls, however, are powerful, high-altitude fliers. If a hawk flies too low or too slow, the gulls may actually mob and attack the hawk rather than flee from it. Gulls are aggressive and often work together to drive predators away.

To successfully scare gulls, you usually need a bird that acts like a fighter jet, not a helicopter.

• Peregrine Falcons: These are often preferred for gull control. They fly high and fast (reaching speeds over 200mph in a dive). They dominate the sky, which forces the gulls to land or scatter completely to avoid the threat from above.
• Harris Hawks: These are still used for gulls, particularly in tight urban spaces or for clearing gulls off roofs (ground-level work). However, the handler has to be very skilled to ensure the hawk isn't overwhelmed by a flock of angry gulls.

There is a major legal and practical limitation with gulls: Aggression.

During nesting season (roughly April to July), gulls become incredibly aggressive to protect their chicks. They will dive-bomb humans and other birds.

• Safety Risk: A handler often cannot fly a bird of prey during the peak of nesting season because the gulls will attack the hawk en masse, potentially injuring or killing it.
• The Strategy: The goal is usually to start the bird of prey programme early in the year (February/March). You want to scare the gulls away before they build nests and lay eggs. Once they have eggs, they are legally protected (in many cases) and biologically fearless, making them nearly impossible to move until autumn

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  What does it mean when a bird is hawking?

  In the context of the Rentokil Bird of Prey Programme, hawking refers to the use of a trained bird of prey (like a Harris Hawk or Falcon) to fly over an area and scare away nuisance birds.

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  Is falconry legal in the UK?

  Yes, falconry is fully legal in the UK, but it is important to distinguish between keeping a bird for a hobby and flying one commercially for pest control, as the laws differ slightly.

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  Can I hire a hawk to get rid of pigeons?

  Yes, you absolutely can. In the UK, this service is commercially available via Rentokil and is a standard method for clearing and deterring pigeons from specific sites.

  However, before you book one, it is important to understand that this is rarely a "one-off" job. It is usually an ongoing service designed for large commercial spaces rather than a quick fix for a back garden.

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  Do hawks get rid of seagulls?

  Yes, hawks can deter seagulls, but for seagulls specifically, other bird of prey species are often the better tool for the job.

  While "hawking" is the general industry term, professional controllers (like Rentokil) will choose the specific type of bird of prey based on the pest they are trying to scare.

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  What birds do trained hawks scare?

  Trained hawks (and falcons) are primarily used to scare Pigeons and Seagulls, as these are the most common commercial problem bird species in the UK.

  However, different pest birds fear different predators. A professional controller will select their raptor based specifically on what species they need to scare.