Ocean City Invites More Birds To Counter Seagulls

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Ocean City is getting its gulls in a row with a program that uses falcons, hawks and owls. The City contracted East Coast Falcons in an effort to scare away gulls that depend on an unnatural supply of food stolen from humans.

The birds will fly over Ocean City from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily to move the gulls aways from the boardwalk and beach without harming them. Ocean City believes the program is the first of its kind in any East Coast shore town. When East Coast Falcons fly overhead, the seagulls instinctively know to leave an unsafe place.

"Professional falconry-based bird abatement is a humane, effective solution for removing nuisance birds," Mayor Jay Gillian said in his weekly address. "The contractor is licensed to conduct the work, and the effort is approved by the Humane Society of Ocean City, which oversees animal control for the town."

Gillian warned people in July to stop feeding the seagulls. He also urged boardwalk merchants to provide enclosed containers for customers getting takeout. Feeding seagulls is against Ocean City law. Read more: Ocean City Mayor: Stop Feeding 'Very Aggressive' Seagulls

The East Coast Falcons program will continue through August. If successful, it will return in summer 2020.

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