08-24-2003, 01:18 PM
Trained hawks employed to keep pigeons from making a mess on visitors in a Manhattan park have been grounded because one of the birds mistook a chihuahua as its lunch.
A 56-centimetre hawk swooped down and gouged the diminutive pooch with one of its talons while the dog was nosing around in the bushes of Bryant Park, located behind the New York Public Library.
The hawk was quickly separated from the dog. A park employee flagged down a cab so the dog's owner could take it to a vet, said Richard Dillon, vice president of security for Bryant Park.
The programme, which aims to scare pigeons out of the park, could be finished. A final decision is expected by the end of the week.
"I sincerely believe the bird mistook it for a rat because it was in the shrubbery," said Thomas Cullen, the falconer hired to run the anti-pigeon program.
The hawk, named Galan, was taken to Cullen's headquarters in Goshen, New York.
The Bryant Park Restoration Corp. picked up the vet's bill, Cullen said.
Daniel Biederman, executive director of the Bryant Park group, said the hawk programme has been a success since it was started in April, with pigeon infestation down 50 per cent and fewer complaints from visitors.
However, city Parks Department officials called for its end.
"We place the safety of park users, including their pets, over any minor inconvenience that may be caused by pigeons," said spokeswoman Megan Sheekey.
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A 56-centimetre hawk swooped down and gouged the diminutive pooch with one of its talons while the dog was nosing around in the bushes of Bryant Park, located behind the New York Public Library.
The hawk was quickly separated from the dog. A park employee flagged down a cab so the dog's owner could take it to a vet, said Richard Dillon, vice president of security for Bryant Park.
The programme, which aims to scare pigeons out of the park, could be finished. A final decision is expected by the end of the week.
"I sincerely believe the bird mistook it for a rat because it was in the shrubbery," said Thomas Cullen, the falconer hired to run the anti-pigeon program.
The hawk, named Galan, was taken to Cullen's headquarters in Goshen, New York.
The Bryant Park Restoration Corp. picked up the vet's bill, Cullen said.
Daniel Biederman, executive director of the Bryant Park group, said the hawk programme has been a success since it was started in April, with pigeon infestation down 50 per cent and fewer complaints from visitors.
However, city Parks Department officials called for its end.
"We place the safety of park users, including their pets, over any minor inconvenience that may be caused by pigeons," said spokeswoman Megan Sheekey.
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