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19 January 2011
Buffy the Pigeon Slayer
BIRDS of prey are being introduced to Tottenham Hale Retail Park in an environmentally friendly bid to banish pigeons.
Park operators have hired an avian control company called Hawk Force to scare off the pigeons for good.
Boss Nick Robertson visited the park on Friday with four birds, including Buffy, a European Eagle Owl, Flo, a Lanner Falcon, and two Harris Hawks, Oz and Willow - all named after characters from cult television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
He said: "When there are predators the female pigeon realises it's not a good place to nest and that's when you break the cycle.
"If a predator moves into their territory they're not going to nest or have babies because it's not safe."
The birds will do the rounds of the park twice a week for the next month before visits are reduced to once a week for a year.
But shoppers should be spared the site of any bloody encounters.
"They're trained not to kill the pigeons. It's not nice for people to see and doesn't stop them from nesting," said Mr Robertson, 40, a former soldier, fireman and cabinet minister bodyguard, who set up the company 14 years ago.
But he added: "It does happen. They're wild creatures and there's nothing you can do about it."Steve Burdett, centre manager, said: "They will become part of the management team and basically the pigeons will stay away. Pigeons are nasty. I think there's a popular London term for them - flying rats - and they carry diseases."
Tom Ireton, manager of Argos, said: "I think it's going to clean up the area dramatically. It does affect customers when you see pigeons all over the place. It's not very nice."
Using hawks is part of moves to make the centre, currently going through an £18million redevelopment, more environmentally friendly.
Plans are afoot for a solar-powered management office on site and the use of waste water for toilet flushing. Consideration is also being given to wind turbines for power generation.
"The idea is that the retail park will be hi-tech and at the same time green and shopper friendly," said Mr Burdett.
The number of outlets at the retail park is expected to rise from 12 to 22 next year, with Asda Living and JD Sports among the incomers.