A hawk named Hazel will be keeping watch around Norwich Market over the next few weeks in a bid to scare off pigeons.
The move has come after traders and shoppers say the pigeons are a nuisance.
Councillor Carli Harper, cabinet member for finance and major projects, said: “We’re proud of our magical medieval market and want to help our traders make it the best market in England and Europe.
"We’ve been told by some traders and residents the pigeons are pests, which is why we’ve brought in the Hazel on a pilot basis to see if she can stop these pigeons from bothering shoppers in a humane, safe way.”
Harriet’s handler, Mikael ChuFoon, of NBC Environment, said: “Our birds are bred and trained at our facility in Norfolk. We train them not to hunt, but to deter. It’s about deterrent that doesn’t rely on lethal control but by encouraging nature to work with nature.”
The stop the pigeon pilot scheme will last for four weeks.
The council will announce further steps to improve the market over next few weeks.
