The use of the predatory bird proved effective

BART began utilizing highly trained hawks

I was taking BART to work a few months ago when I noticed a woman holding a large bird of prey.

I must admit that I was surprised. I'm accustomed to eccentric behavior on San Francisco public transit, but the bird was so big and the woman looked so serious that I couldn't quite shrug them off as being part of the usual cast or characters. What were they up to?

It turns out they were there on official business.

This morning there was a new sign that explained there were “hawks at work” as part of the “pigeon abatement program”. When I told Sachin Monga, he looked it up and it turned out that not only is this a real program, but that there is an official anime mascot.

BART says about the hawks:

In May 2022, BART began utilizing highly trained hawks to mitigate the pigeon problem at El Cerrito del Norte. In just a short time, the use of the predatory bird proved effective at deterring non-native pigeons that seek food and shelter in BART stations.

and about the anime:

BART is excited to announce the release of five BART- and Bay Area-themed anime mascots that will help us in our mission to promote public transportation use, especially among youth riders, a growing and reliable ridership demographic.

Inspired by BART frontline employees and BART-contracted animals (goats, hawks) who have gone on to reach national fame, the anime mascots highlight the tight-knit connections between BART and the Bay Area.

Wait a minute, goats? Yes, apparently.

At the risk of stating the obvious, having birds of prey keeping your commute pest-free is awesome. I don't know if this is the most cost efficient method of getting rid of pigeons, but I don’t mind too much if it’s not.

This severe woman (the real one, not the cartoon) and her fierce bird boost the civic spirit far beyond the mere absence of pests. There is a lot to complain about on how this city spends money, but you won't hear me complaining about the falconry.

The subway system’s anime mascot, complete with cosplay guide, is less of a slam dunk. Some of that energy could be redirected to fixing the tracks so they stop shrieking louder than the hawks. Nevertheless, on balance and grading on a curve I am scoring this episode as a W for San Francisco.

We are so back.

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The award for best note about this situation goes to J. Curtis