OCEAN CITY – Trained, contracted raptors will clear the skies above the Ocean City boardwalk of seagulls again this summer, Mayor Jay Gillian said. The service cost was $2,100 per day last year.
“The innovative program using falcons, hawks and an owl to keep gulls from stealing boardwalk food, brought international attention to Ocean City and kept our guests safe,” Gillian said, in part of his State of the City Address to Ocean City Council Feb 27.
East Coast Falcons deployed the birds of prey to relocate aggressive seagulls that steal food from the hands of customers outside boardwalk shops. The program began in August 2019.
The presence of the big birds scares gulls from the boardwalk area or off to sea to seek food. The predators are reportedly trained not to eat the gulls – their diets are controlled by trainers from the Lodi-based bird abatement service. The birds are fed quail after their shifts.
The program was deemed successful by city officials and the public after its brief run at the end of summer 2019. No word on when services will begin this summer. Gillian did not return a phone call or e-mail seeking comment.
