Leeds United's new signings (courtesy of Yorkshire Evening Post)
29th September 2009
Leeds United certainly won't be short of talent on the wing next season – thanks to a brace of new signings.
Lucky the Harris Hawk and Leo the Lanner Falcon are the latest squad members at the Elland Road stadium.
But unlike the regular players their job is to SCARE rather than SCORE.
The bird duo have been brought in to rid the ground of a plague of pigeons and jackdaws who have tried to take up residence in the stands.
The bird invaders – which also include a lone Kestrel – had been living in old warehouses behind the North Stand of the stadium.
But after the buildings were demolished, the homeless birds tried to move in to their upmarket neighbour next door.
Unfortunately they were also leaving an unpleasant 'calling card' on seats across the stadium.
That's when facilities manager Trevor Barnes called in the services of Leeds-based NBC Bird and Pest Solutions – and their secret weapons Lucky and Leo.
Area manager Neil Westwood said: "When the warehouses were pulled down all the pigeons decided to move into Elland Road.They were creating a bit of a problem with fouling on the seats. I think the club tried a few other solutions but then they called us in.
"I come down here most days and fly the birds around. They patrol the stadium and their presence alone scares off the pigeons from roosting here.
"They don't hunt the pigeons in any way. They are entirely dependent on me for their food, but their shadow on the skyline is usually enough to see off the smaller birds.
"It's actually a really green and efficient way of dealing with the problem. If you were to put up netting on a stadium this size it would cost an absolute fortune but the birds of prey do just as good and no one gets hurt."
He said the predators were already proving their worth.
When the YEP joined him at the stadium, the pitch had just been reseeded, yet there was not a pigeon to be seen.
Neil said: "It seems to be working really well, the pigeons are definitely getting the message. The Kestrel's another matter though, he won't be intimidated quite so easily.
"But I'd hope Leeds can put up with a Kestrel in their ground. It's pretty cool isn't it? Though I suppose it ought to be an owl!"
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