This is Bird Note.

Birders and cities sometimes joke that they mostly see pigeons.

But if you're waiting for a train in San Francisco,

you might also see something unusual,

a big bird with a serious job.

His name, Pac-Man.

I got Pac-Man about seven years ago.

He's a captive-bred Harris hawk.

Vahe-Ella Verdean of Falcon Force,

along with Pac-Man,

have partnered with San Francisco Area Transit Authorities

to deter pigeons from El Cerrito Dome Norte Station,

where the situation had gotten dire.

When we first started,

they were sitting on the signs.

They're sitting on the concrete ledges

and their droppings are all dripping down.

And it's a huge health hazard,

inhaling pigeon droppings.

This form of pest management

involves having a trained bird of prey

fly around the area to frighten,

...