Hawk solves mall’s pigeon problem

A major renovation of the mall — which included additional stores and restaurants, the installation of walkways, and a new garage — proved to be a major draw for shoppers. But it also drew flocks of pigeons, which nested in the garage and made a mess of the surrounding project, reports The Washington Post.

After evaluating a variety of options, the mall brought in The Hawk Pros, a company whose clients have included the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the U.S. Bank Tower, both in Los Angeles. Hawks also patrol Wimbledon’s tennis courts and Trafalgar Square, both in London. But half the firm's clients are shopping centers, Hawk Pros co-founder Alyssa Bordonaro told SCT.

Each time Broadway Plaza's hawk — named Remmy —  chases away a pigeon, it receives a piece of meat from its handler as a reward. The hawk is both a scourge for the pigeons and a spectacle for the shoppers, said Shelly Dress, a senior property manager at the mall, speaking to the Post.

“Hiring Remmy was the best money we’ve spent,” Dress said. “He not only keeps the mall free of pigeons, he’s also become something of a local celebrity.”