Syracuse.com - Video: Trained falcons used to keep gulls off the trash at Seneca Meadows Landfill

[HuntingNY-News]

Nearly a decade ago, there were some 50,000 birds flocking at the landfill each day. That number has been decreased to 1,000 or less, depending on the day and time of year. Watch video

Trained falcons are used year-round to keep the gulls off the trash at the Seneca Meadows Landfill near Waterloo.

I went with Staff Photographer Stephen Canerelli Thursday to check out the scene. It was fascinating. Three types of falcons are used and they're very effective. They don't attack the gulls, they just scare the heck out of them as they're circling around. Workers also use pyrotechnics (fireworks) shot from a handgun to frighten the birds.

At one point about a decade ago, there were some 50,000 birds flocking at the landfill each day. That number has been decreased to 1,000 or less, depending on the day and time of year.

For more on this, see Sunday's Outdoors page in The Post-Standard

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog