In the Delicias neighborhood, the solution to the pigeon problem involves a specific profession: falconry. A falconer has begun working in the neighborhood, using falcons to disperse the birds that have occupied ledges, rooftops, sidewalks, and building entrances for years. The image captures the change in the scene well: where flocks used to gather, a trained bird of prey now appears, disrupting that routine and driving the pigeons to leave the area.
The intervention comes after a long-standing problem. In 2024, Telemadrid reported complaints from residents and parents of the Nuestra Señora de las Delicias school, who complained about the constant presence of pigeons around the school. The focus was on the accumulated dirt on the street and the building’s facade, as well as concerns about health and daily coexistence. Two years later, the neighborhood has found a solution in an old trade that is now regaining ground in the city—and which was previously implemented at the Puerta de Alcalá.
A profession that works with bird behavior
The falconer’s job consists of coordinating deterrent flights with trained birds of prey. The goal is to create a recognizable threat for the pigeons and disrupt their sense of security. The aim is not to capture them, but to modify their habits, prevent them from settling in the same spots, and reduce their presence in the most affected areas.
The falconer knows the flocks’ arrival times, identifies the rooftops they use as perches, and repeats flights in the areas where the birds congregate. Each release of the falcon is part of that strategy.
Falconry, as mentioned above, has already been used in Madrid in areas such as the Puerta de Alcalá to protect heritage sites from the impact of droppings. In Delicias, that same logic is being applied to the neighborhood fabric and the daily life of the community.