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Can RoboHawk solve NYC's pigeon problem?

By Ryan Chatelain | ryan.chatelain@am-ny.com

6:04 PM EDT, May 15, 2008

Robop Limited's mechanical hawk. (Handout Photo / May 16, 2008)

From its perch, the bird of prey shakes its head from left to right, flaps its wings and bellows its call. While it may look and sound real to pigeons, it's not.

Robotic hawks are increasingly being deployed on corporation campuses and at airports around the world as a humane deterrent for unwanted birds. And they could be one weapon for driving pigeons from New York City sidewalks.

"I don't want to say it's a panacea for all problems," said John Donald, managing director of Robop Limited, which manufactures mechanical hawks. "It can certainly reduce the numbers."

The idea of using robotic hawks in New York was floated last fall in Councilman Simcha Felder's report about what he views as a citywide pigeon problem. Felder (D-Brooklyn) is proposing a bill that would fine people $1,000 for feeding the birds and would create a "pigeon czar" to be responsible for pigeon-related matters, such as cleanup. He expects a council hearing on the legislation, which is still being drafted, to be held before the end of the year.

Using robots to combat the city's immense pigeon population is not part of Felder's bill but could be an option if the Bloomberg administration feels the high-tech scarecrows are a good investment, Felder said. The city's health department did not comment directly about the possible use of robotic hawks but said pigeons do not pose a health risk to the public.

Municipalities have rarely resorted to robots, with Liverpool, England, last year becoming one of their few - and highest profile - customers. Liverpool purchased 10 of the $4,200 Robops, produced in Scotland and designed to look, act and sound like peregrine falcons. While it's unclear how effective the robots alone have been there, the novel items have drummed up worldwide media attention and helped the Liverpool City Council deliver its bigger message to residents: Don't feed the pigeons.

"Spending $50,000 to get rid of a problem that is a health hazard and is disgusting is a small price to pay," Felder said.

Robop, oddly enough, doesn't fly and must be moved around periodically to trick pigeons.

Another robotic hawk, Falco Robot, made in Spain and modeled after a goshawk, does fly, however.

Both products would have their drawbacks in New York, though.

Falco Robot, which is controlled remotely, requires a trained operator to fly it, likely driving up its price tag. The makers of Falco Robot would not disclose how much their product costs.

Meanwhile, Robop, can work for hours on its own but was designed only to rid individual buildings of pesky birds, not a major city.

City officials have not been in contact with the makers of Robop or Falco Robot, the manufacturers said.