Jana Barkley, left, patrols Plumas Street with her hawk, Serenity, working to keep the area clear of pesky crows. Photo by Shamaya Sutton

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) – There’s a woman with a falcon on Plumas Street, blowing whistles and shining lasers. No, she isn’t crazy, she’s part of Yuba City’s effort to maintain its most important business district and keep one of the nation's largest crow populations at bay.

“Legally, what we’re allowed to do is be a predatory presence especially with a native species like crows,” said Jana Barkley, owner of Aero Falconry. “All I’m here to do is be a predatory presence and scare them away. This is called pest bird abatement.”

From October to March, an estimated 1.5-million crows come to roost in the warmth of Yuba City's lights and lampposts. Primary locations include the streets and parking lots surrounding the Yuba Sutter Marketplace, and the tree-lined strip of Downton Plumas Street. During the day, the crows serve a purpose in gleaning the dry, discarded fruits and nuts from local orchard floors. But their nightly routine has quickly become a nuisance for urban residents.

In 1999, some local businesses reported spending between $300 and $500 a week cleaning up crow droppings that had piled up a quarter-inch thick. Because these birds are protected in California by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, it seemed there was little to be done about the growing problem. Technically, the city could get a permit from the state to hunt or poison the birds during crow season but such a plan was reportedly met with intense public protest in the late 1980s.

This is where Barkley and her taloned friends come into play. Crows aren't too keen on larger falcons and hawks and for good reason, these avians often pick on their smaller counterparts and can wreak havoc on their nests. Using birds of prey to patrol the streets has successfully been shown to deter and disperse unwanted flocks to other parts of the city.

“The city is sensitive to the need for controlling the migratory crow population, particularly in our downtown business district where their presence creates a nuisance which may result in a negative economic impact,” said former Yuba City Councilman and Mayor Shon Harris. “Falconry has proven to be an effective motivator for the birds to relocate their roosting activities.  While it doesn't eliminate the animals, it does provide a significant and obvious respite from the noise and other evidence of their presence. The city has a great relationship with Jana Barkley and Aero Falconry and we are pleased to report positive results.”

Serenity, a hawk trained in pest abatement, soars to and from the rooftops of Plumas Street in Yuba City. Photo by Shamaya Sutton

On Nov. 27, Barkley started one of her nightly patrols off Teegarden Avenue in Yuba City. Her partner for the evening was Serenity, a Harris Hawk and experienced hunter who she helped rehabilitate. Serenity seemed quite eager to stretch her wings and diligently soared to and from Barkley’s forearm and the neighboring rooftops to collect bite-sized treats of quail meat.

“Normally I’d take all her gear off but because we’re flying around traffic and I see people walking their dogs I do have to be careful,” said Barkley.

A mixture of whistles and lasers were used in tandem with Serenity’s flights, training the crows to react accordingly. For some flocks, all it took was a quick flash of the laser for them to redirect course.

“What we’re doing is conditioning the birds, training them to react,” said Barkley. “Some people try to use recordings of hawk cries but it really helps to have the real thing every once in a while to back up the threat.”

During peak season, usually late October, Barkley might walk the entire Plumas Street stretch each evening starting at sunset. Once her presence is established, she can slowly begin tapering off her patrols. No matter what time of year it is though, visitors always seem to have questions. Barkley repeated her introductory spiel at least half a dozen times within the first 30 minutes of her arrival. She doesn't seem to mind educating the public but keeping her bird safe, especially among rowdy bar crowds, is a priority.

“They’re not pets; I always try to keep myself as a buffer between people and the birds,” said Barkley.