Jersey Shore town uses predatory birds to control gulls on the beach and boardwalk

Hawks and falcons are being used in Ocean City to chase away seagulls on the beach and boardwalk. At times, beachgoers couldn't eat in peace - but now there's been a huge improvement. (Video by Andre Malok | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
Read the full story ➡️ l.nj.com/j8OJuZ

[@georgemurphy2579]

You are doing a great service and in a very humane way! These hawks and falcons are so beautiful, and intelligent! Thanks so much...

[@halibut1249]

I go down to the Hudson River and see the ring billed sea gulls, and mallard ducks, and Canada geese. I never thought of the sea gulls as anything but a natural part of the river environment. Most of them leave during the summer months, I think to the Jersey shore where they say the human food is theirs for the taking (except one beach). Where I go, there are also a few larger sea gulls with solid yellow bills, I think herring gulls, and the most majestic sea gull and largest of them all, the great black-backed gull, with dark feathers, a shy and solitary bird. These birds too are seldom seen in the summer months; I assume they fly out to the coast where they breed and can catch fresh fish, but they may migrate someplace too.

[@sjung66510]

"Karen" LOL. Best name for a falcon EVER.

[@wassgood42]

this is sad. seagulls are a staple of the jersey shore experience. many people look forward to seeing them there when they visit.

[@williamwatson171]

Bulshit

[@maxlvledc]

Yea I call bs as well..the only reason they are in those numbers is because of the massive food supply we are introducing to the population. Long term is actually destroys the ecosystem.

[@muddogtracker7449]

Goes with the aroma? The gulls aren't going anywhere, exept down the beach away from the boardwalk. Away from the preditors. Look at it as improving the sky rats diet, keeping them away from the people.

[@somacruz7759]

Well, if you want to see them, go to a place that isn't being patrolled by the hawks and falcons.

[@snugbug5067]

the reason gulls are aggressive and annoying, as one person said "shore rats" is beach goers have been enticing them with food for a LONG time.

[@hdrvman]

Wow.....I'm a native of Point Pleasant Beach NJ and our high school mascot is the gull......we are the Garnett Gulls....so this kind of saddens me.

[@AJCsr]

I went to Pennsbury High and our school mascot is the Falcon's ! Our football team would probably also eat your Point Pleasant Gulls !

[@hdrvman]

@@AJCsr As the smallest public High School in New Jersey to field a football team.... your probably right !!!

[@AJCsr]

Shlt, now I want some boardwalk fries and a Jersey, slice of pepperoni pie !

[@muddogtracker7449]

What an incredible job! Outdoors on the beach, workin with these birds.. And getting paid to do it.

[@AJCsr]

Hey Falcon's gotta eat too ! GO PENNSBURY FALCON'S !

[@abe_ismain]

Nice to see tamed/trained animals at work patrolling from the nuisance.

[@xandervk2371]

The actual nuisance is the crass beachgoers.

[@williamwatson171]

Yes

[@maxlvledc]

This is amazing

[@eyoutube1]

Also, stop feeding seagulls. It becomes the next person's problem and eventually yours when you come back.

[@mylespop]

This is awesome. Good birds.

[@charleskim1540]

This birds of prey are the perfect weapons against the seagulls.

[@Kurenia1]

It's concerning and sad to see people getting triggered over this. Just because you want to see the birds swarming people for your amusement doesn't condone substituting their natural diet with human food and trash. The gulls will be there, you will see them, they aren't hunting them down. The point is (and I believe it was stated in the video) they won't swoop in to steal your food because there's a bigger bird indirectly teaching them some manners. People saying this is trying to "dictate" nature. Using a natural means to invoke a natural response in a natural habitat is not dictating nature. Any wild bird of prey can come into an area, build a nest and patrol it regularly. The only difference is that this bird has a name, and her name is Karen. "But it's their domain".... ok, and your point??? If that's your logic then why don't cities that live in/around forests freely allow black bears or mountain lions to "swoop" in and steal food out of dumpsters or people's backyards? The only difference is you wouldn't be complaining. There's a reason they say don't feed wildlife you encounter, or if you're camping, to practice no-trace. But people don't do that, which has created a major problem here that is plain to see. A seagulls diet is vast and doesn't need to be substituted by the human-saviors trying to feed them a doughnut. There's a whole ocean right there in front of them and miles of beach for washed up carrion. This is a wonderful and natural way of dealing with a sensitive issue. The only thing left to do is to deal with the trash (people included who ruin their natural habitat).

[@Roadtripmik]

Yes the jersey seagulls are just as ruthless as the jersey people!!

[@tracychambless7938]

beautiful 😊👍

[@tracychambless7938]

good job👍

[@PeterEdwardCaceci]

Hardly any sea chickens today, July 5th 2023- Sea Isle City.

[@vas4739]

This breaks my heart but I do understand. People caused this problem-similar to when campers don’t exercise due diligence with their food & cooking utensils, etc which naturally attract the foregoing animals. I love these seagulls! I love the Atlantic Ocean!

[@fowlwinds]

Great solution, but the hostage aspect of the falcon's downtime is deeply disturbing

[@limpsponge]

Yea but they pick up the garbage you humans throw and the food you waste!

[@muddogtracker7449]

So do rats and cockroaches? I don't see a lot of folks embracing them. From what I got out of this story the gulls are not being hurt, I bet more gulls are injured hanging around the boardwalk, than by the hawks.

[@josephpinto2182]

The HAWK will never die!

[@jimmyice]

Whats with the chains and blindfolds?

[@cubeweaver]

Gulls: Defund the falcons!!

[@sarge4455]

Cool 😎

[@kevinchambers1101]

Funny, these gulls are like the tourist that come to the shore, they're loud, dirty and obnoxious and I wish they would go away.

[@michele3342]

It's their world too. I think doing this is disgusting. If you find the gulls annoying don't go to the beach. I wouldn't patronize Ocean beach at all

[@williamwatson171]

Good stay away

[@sharongavin243]

Michele I agree. I'm with you. What about all the disrespectful humans roaming around there? So far they haven't sent any lions and tigers to the boardwalks and beaches to disperse that crowds of entitled, rude people who jaywalk, trash the beaches, and abuse the animals and birds whose habitats they're invading.

[@MrCancer1965]

Seagulls belong at the beach. The Mayor of Jersey Shore has lost his mind.

[@cr-iv1el]

Not sad to set limits for animals just like we do for people. There is an entire ocean right there. Put things back into balance.

[@michele3342]

Oh I didnt know we were killing people.

[@kylefidure7504]

You're right put it back in balance. No more boardwalk, concession stands, rides. Go back to a natural beach setting. And people will stop going there end of problem.

[@Yoseman1]

Want to put things in balance? Stay home...

[@MjoodIlIlI]

1 goleden eagle that's enough

[@tracychambless7938]

seagals are too big abd they eat grom other little birds and squirrels too👍

[@darrenhinmon6623]

Awesome! Just rats with wings.

[@Yoseman1]

Gulls are part of the beach. When humans try to dictate to nature for their own leasure, I can't think of an instance where it ended well.

[@Chris-ml8hs]

I have lived at the shore almost my whole life , sea gulls live at the shore that is their world they are doing as they have learned . They can't call door dash .. they belong there . So if there is an issue with them swooping down for food so be it .. it's there domain not yours . When it is 5 degrees out in January.. guess what your home drinking hot chocolate they are huddled together braving the weather to survive.. this is absurd at best .. Ps. I hope the seagull for a group an go after your alien to the beach front falcon !

[@atriasmith1899]

Born and raised here. Terrified of the birds tho😂But still.... Leave them alone, they belong on the beach ⛱️

[@Jesussaveslifes1]

Eat a home, problem solved !

[@Yoseman1]

You want me to eat a whole home? It's called proof reading....you should try it.

[@muddogtracker7449]

@@Yoseman1 The doors get caught in my teeth...