Urban Falconry in Portland | Challenges with winter crow migrations in cities | Oregon Field Guide

The use of falconry to control nuisance birds is common practice in settings as varied as sewage treatment plants, vineyards and other agricultural fields. But using this age-old strategy in urban settings is being pioneered right here in Portland.
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[@bradsimpson8724]

There's definitely some confusion in the comments here. Let's clear up a few things. 1) Yes, crows are known to pick on raptors, typically trying to steal food from a bird with a meal. The difference here is that the hawks are on more level footing in that they don't have a meal to defend, and the crows are just interested in getting some rest. As an analogy, me and my friends may be able to jump a guy stuffing his face on a park bench and take his wallet, but if he pulls his car up to my house and blasts a stereo in the window, we aren't going to be able to sleep. 2) The object here is not to kill the crows. Other birds are better-suited to that particular mission, and that creates issues by itself. The goal here is to push the crows into areas where they are less intrusive, like using sheepdogs to herd a flock into a barn so they don't wreck a pasture. 3) In the strictest sense of the word, this is not falconry. That would require a falcon(not a hawk), and a true hunt. This is more bird abatement. However, for every average Joe out there, and every falconer who is not a stuck-up prick stuck on the most narrow interpretation of the term, this absolutely can be considered falconry. 4) Using raptors to deter nuisance birds in city centres is not new or novel. Back in the 60s, a pesticide called DDT was determined to be interfering with the population of peregrine falcons, putting them on the endangered list. Many cities set up nesting sites in their core areas, as the buildings and streets closely mimicked the canyon environments the falcons naturally used. This had the side effect of driving these birds out of those areas, and some cities continued to maintain those nesting sites after the falcon population had begun to recover, specifically for that reason. As of 2009, when I lived in the city of Calgary, there were still peregrine falcons nesting downtown to deter crows and pigeons and such from moving in.

[@Bout-It]

Well said

[@gbrads]

That is totally brilliant. Way to go Portland.

[@t2fast]

What is cool about Harris hawks is that they hunt in packs unlike other hawks and falcons.

[@Rusty6450]

and the Harris is not a bird hawk, traditionally. have a concern that this video says they are 'trained' which is false.

[@alfieclayton3418]

@@Rusty6450 what you saying

[@bradsimpson8724]

@@Rusty6450 They aren't hunting, though - they're more "herding" the crows around. People probably wouldn't be nearly as accepting of mass-killing the crows(particularly in a place like Portland), otherwise they'd be using poisons. They're just trying to push them around to certain areas. And the birds are absolutely trained. They aren't domesticated, but when you're flying them off your fist, targeting their flight with a laser pointer, getting a consistent return - that's absolutely the definition of "trained" as it relates to falconry.

[@FlyingDwarfman]

​@@Rusty6450 There was a prior comment that debunked much of what you're saying and implying, but there is another point to bring up to add on to that: I'd deduce from the video that Harris hawks not being bird hunters is a PRO for using them over other raptors that are (eg: Peregrine). The falconer noted explicitly that Harris hawks aren't reliably capable of hunting crows. It was stated multiple times by the falconer and by the VO that the goal was to essentially use the raptors to train the crow population(s) so that they stop resting in urban spaces and instead choose non-urban spaces. Using a large raptor that will only very, very rarely kill a crow (because it's not specialized to and not trained to) logically makes a lot of sense toward to that goal.

[@seanpatterson5948]

Thank you portland, very cool.

[@bearshifflett2395]

Lol. It's just portland.. someone walking around with a Paris hawk.. lol. Yep. I've seen weirder things in Portland.

[@solvcom2491]

You accidentally said Paris hawk

[@just82much72]

@@solvcom2491 : Lol. Might be referring to a new species of hawk found mostly in France?

[@jge9985]

It’s harris hawk lol

[@verukasault9065]

Harris's Hawk

[@bearshifflett2395]

@@verukasault9065 thanks. Predictive text

[@just82much72]

This is freekin awesome! 👍👍🐦

[@Tdaz250]

“So much so...there was just shit everywhere” 😂

[@st0n3p0ny]

Look how beautiful Portland used to be...

[@perfectweather]

Transient birds from out of town being to loud and using the side walk as a toilet was a problem....humans on the other hand 😉

[@marilyncatalano6478]

The opening sequence looked straight out of the Hitchcock movie, "The Birds". I love this movie and any other Hitchcock movie. I love falconry too.

[@deadheadwannabe6874]

Very cool

[@dereklacy]

I applaud Portland's approach to pest management, but it isn't new and certainly isn't novel.

[@anonymoushacker7645]

Well done I breed Harris hawks in England good job there

[@superfly19751]

That is pretty damn cool!

[@savagethepirate1766]

I hear nothing but good things about Portland.... even the hipster jokes are great

[@Rob-tr1st]

Hahahahaha I love raptors and all falcon's, but the simple fact these dudes have crow patrol vests on is absolutely hilarious.

[@DrVetMatheoHerrera]

What about create some nest for urban raptors? It could be a great support to dimish the crow poppulation

[@st0n3p0ny]

That would make sense... Portland does the other thing. Other cities have done it effectively with falcons. Harris hawk nests on buildings here and there would be a good idea because they're the only hawks that work together in packs. Barn owls would be even better. They're another oddball raptor that doesn't mind living with other barn owls. But again, it's Portland. Some idiot would destroy the nest/box and spray paint some stupid political message to get attention.

[@akwlb2]

Weird, here in California I always see 3 or 4 crows ganging up hawks all the time. Here in the bay area crows are assholes. Ive seen them try to knock off a squirrel off a tree.

[@Livingincoastalsandiego]

lmao..I hear stories here in San Diego too, where Crows try to gang up on Hawks.

[@bradsimpson8724]

The difference is that those interactions are on the crow's terms. Here, they're just trying to find a sheltered, peaceful spot to bed down for the night. If this was a wild Harris' hawk(or almost any raptor, really) and was hunkering down for a meal, it would have the very same problem with crows harassing it. Here, the roles are reversed - the crows want some relaxing downtime and can't have it because there's a predator that's too close. Back in the 80s and early 90s, something similar was done in the city of Calgary, Alberta. Peregrine falcons were being roosted in the city core so that DDT spraying wouldn't affect their nests. The crows would harass the falcons over food, but they didn't feel safe spending much time downtown, so they didn't roost there.

[@FlyingDwarfman]

This is common around the world and not even exclusive to crows or hawks. Smaller, faster, much more agile, social birds will gang up to harass larges birds of prey toward various goals. It helps prevent the predatory bird from killing one or more of the group population. It also removes a competitor that would hunt similar prey. In addition, it is also done as an opportunity to steal food from that competing hunter. You see these kinds of scenarios a lot with crows, magpies and ravens (all closely related, highly intelligent and highly social birds), but also gulls and other seabirds, as well. I've witnessed them harassing fish eagles and osprey all the time in seaport areas.

[@jgrave10]

Set up roosting sites and introduce Peregrine Falcons.

[@matthewtrebs9738]

I was suprised they didnt use peregrine falcons. They already live in a lot of urban environments and i think their favorite meals are birds anyway.

[@bradsimpson8724]

The city of Calgary, Alberta pretty successfully managed crows and pigeons with peregrines like this. I remember the year that I lived there(2010, I think) they also had success managing mosquito populations with dragonflies.

[@nalanix3058]

well, i would say harris hawks are a good way. especially since they're one of the only known birds of prey to hunt in packs. crows can be a problem for falconers. these crows have a higher chance of just flying away. however if its the same crows. they remember. and they can share information through generations. so while it may work for a little bit. crows will notice how the hawk is. and how they may follow the laser, and crows are known to pester raptors. or even the person with the raptor. this has a high chance of working for a while. but they may slowly learn, or even suddenly. if its primarily at night i would say to go with an owl of sorts. owls can be controversial and some say they aren't very bright. but, in reality. it's just because they work best at night. so it wont all be sight like regular raptors. it tends to be the bigger the disc. the more they rely on hearing. im not a professional and i could explain it longer but this is merely just a comment on a youtube post. feel free to argue as again im, not a pro. but I've studied for quite some time now. and that's just an idea on it if its the main thing to use raptors i think it would be better in general not to make them go away. but try to find a way to encourage them to move. if they have a better spot to roost they would probably rather it.

[@gio-ve7vn]

well, they're just shooing them away from this area. The video said they're pushing them to roost in less populated areas and the coast

[@LatelyDrowsy]

I would be worried that the crows would gang up on the hawk and kill it. It happens all the time when theres a large flock of them.

[@bradsimpson8724]

Crows normally gang up on raptors over food, and violence ensues when the raptor refuses to give up their meal and tries their luck against the crows. It's a battle on the crow's terms. Here, the roles are reversed. The crows want peace so they can sleep, but there's a predator too near to risk it. Rather than risk injury trying to chase off the predator, it's safer to just find another place to sleep - unlike when you're going to rib a hawk of it's dinner, there's no reward in it for them to be worth the risk.

[@RaZERMadeiraIsland]

Very good, in Island Madeira (Island were Cristiano Ronaldo CR7 was born) we will start a new project like this, to drive away the piegons of the city if Harris Hawks: D Good Jobbbbb

[@willieboy8798]

good job ….but get an owl ….they scare the s@#t out of crows. blue light transmitter great idea

[@dereklacy]

@vin 950 It's possible, yes. But owls are very hard to train for the purposes of falconry.

[@thekatt...]

In my experience they hate owls and gang up and kill them. Not fear them. Even a cardboard cutout will bring in the whole flock.

[@willieboy8798]

@@thekatt... there is a red tail hawk in my area the crows gang on it. it has learned to adapt it makes the kill in day light and then flies back later to eat, it feeds on rabbits in that area.

[@semi-automaticdooropened9007]

dereklacy it’s kind of hard because owls are pretty stupid

[@willieboy8798]

@@semi-automaticdooropened9007 your not serious are you!

[@williamoregan5628]

There are many similarities to the crow problem in Portland and using a trained animal to alleviate said problem to the cougar problem in all of rural Oregon and the lack of ability to use a trained animal to alleviate said problem.

[@zaylixsav1671]

I mean where can I sign up?

[@dereklacy]

The first people to talk to would be your state's fish and wildlife department.

[@lizycole8999]

Bird problems require bird solutions.

[@oldschoolhawking8191]

I've been involved in falconry for the last 50 years, and I could tell you that it's going to take more than a few Hawks to scare away those crows forever. You're going to have to put a bounty on those crows, like they did in the 50s and 40s. They need to be shot out in the rural areas where they are feeding. I don't know how you go about getting permits to do that, but that's going to be the only solution. OSH :-(

[@oldschoolhawking8191]

@daAnder71 Are you replying to my comment? I never said anything about shooting crows in a residential area, I said a rural area where they feed. OSH :-(

[@boeingb5280]

You don’t need shot guns, you can just use air guns. They are less dangerous and a lot quieter.

[@bradsimpson8724]

I'd expect that a huge number of those crows are dumpster-divers that aren't spending much time in areas where you could get away with shooting them, and if they are, they're smart enough to figure that out pretty fast when someone declares open season on them. I won't argue with you - those hawks probably won't work forever, but it is a media-friendly short-term solution.

[@oldschoolhawking8191]

@@bradsimpson8724 I hear you. 😄👍

[@verukasault9065]

Haha...just move the problem to a waterfront park or elsewhere, is what she said. 😆

[@arandomdude8584]

Thats where my uncle lives

[@freshlove7926]

A random dude !! - where? On the trees?

[@beaglemanzzz]

Maybe this will work with the homeless problem too

[@v6ix89]

Notice he said he fly lol. You mean the hawk fly

[@lukyguy1240]

Of only falcons could stop all their hoboes from crapping all over everything too.

[@Xantank]

Bird don’t sleep. The joke is on you

I want a job killing pigeons in the city. Seriously? A yellow vest? Please. The bird needs it?

[@manganjames1]

Not falconry...just some guy walking around with a hawk.

[@bradsimpson8724]

While you're technically correct, this is definitely close enough to falconry for the average Joe to qualify.

[@scotlandstonic8757]

The only thing lacking in this type of falconry is a .....Falcon lol

[@t2fast]

The term falconry refers to hunting with all types of falcons or hawks. My father was a master falconer and avid breeder for over 50 years and I learned a little bit in that time

[@christianhunt7382]

wow, talk about gentrification! way to go Portland!🙄

[@rapperc18]

Can you chase away the homeless people taking dumps outside your nice stores and Antifa destroying public places?

[@LisaBeergutHolst]

LOL, I'll take anti-fascists over fascists any day.

[@GlobalistJuice]

@@LisaBeergutHolst You can have 'em - aside from a few mentally challenged groups of lefty-lunatics, no one wants those deranged assholes around - they're all yours!

[@ttttttt77777]

This is what happens when you legalize all drugs in your city. ;-)

[@kathleenwoffordencaustics5633]

I can’t stand it. You have to let us know how things are going today.

[@manganjames1]

Not falconry

[@manganjames1]

@Vivianna Mason - 2025 Falconry is hunting wild game with a trained hawk. This is bird abatement - dude just walks around with a hawk on his fist, which is not falconry.

[@samuelwilliams5161]

Surprise soy boy antifa don’t try shut it down as cruel in Portland 😂

[@rich_v]

Just wait till night time when most people are back at home and the crows are in the trees roosting, then bring out a couple pellet guns and problem solved!

[@joecampo5902]

Hippies

[@absolchan]

Joe Campo hippies how? That makes no sense. Falconry isnt related to being a hippy at all lmao

[@joecampo5902]

@@absolchan lol bro im talking about portland i luv hawks and dream about one day getting into falconry

[@cspruitt3190]

I'm shocked that the SJW's aren't raising hell!

[@Xantank]

No one likes to be pooped on. Everyone can relate to that

[@batalorian7997]

Wouldn't PETA be the ones to complain about this?

[@robertnoriega1388]

How do I apply 😵‍💫🥶🤭🤗👊😎