07 January 2013

USA / ENERGY : Hungry Hawks Keep Refineries Free Of Bird Droppings.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324731304578191480829527030.html

      If you've ever tried to clean dried-up bird poop off your car...you know how tough and toxic it can be.
      With expensive and sensitive equipment...oil refineries have been plagued by invasions of starlings and pigeons...whose unsanitary droppings also pose safety hazards.
      Imported from Europe without natural predators over 100 years ago...starlings especially are problematic for refineries...as thousands prefer to swarm equipment for perches and heat.
     The latest low tech solution has been to unleash hungry hawks...to scare and scatter the birds.
     It seems to be working.