Mayor's Message: Falcon Company to Target Nuisance Seagulls

Dear Friends, The city has contracted East Coast Falcons in an effort to scare away the gulls who have become dependent on an unnatural supply of food stolen from people on the boardwalk and beach. From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, starting tomorrow (Saturday, Aug. 3), falcons, hawks and owls will fly over Ocean City to move the gulls away from these areas without harming them. This abatement program is believed to be the first of its kind for any shore town on the East Coast. When East Coast Falcon's professionals fly the raptors overhead, gulls know instinctively to leave an unsafe place. Professional falconry-based bird abatement is a humane, effective solution for removing nuisance birds. The contractor is licensed to conduct the work, and the effort is approved by the Humane Society of Ocean City, which oversees animal control for the town. Over time, the gulls in Ocean City have become increasingly aggressive in their quest for boardwalk food and beach picnics. For the health and safety of both these birds and humans, the city must take action to return them to their natural diet and habitat. Falcons will soon scare away the seagulls that pester Boardwalk strollers and beachgoers, the mayor says. (Photo courtesy City of Ocean City) The sight of falcons, hawks and owls over the boardwalk will be unique, and I hope you’ll join me in wishing this program success. The county completed work this week to eliminate the southerly crosswalk at the signaled intersection of Eighth Street and Bay Avenue. Signage now directs pedestrians to use the northerly crosswalk -- away from the path of cars taking left turns from Eighth Street onto Bay Avenue. I want to thank the county for working with residents and the city to make this modification, minimizing the risk to pedestrians using the intersection. The Ocean City Police Department started patrols this week and issued summonses to a small number of people drinking alcohol on the beach. As I’m sure all of you know, Ocean City has been a dry town since 1879, and drinking alcohol on any other public beach in New Jersey also is illegal. The problem is that far too many people believe this law applies to everybody but themselves, and it has gotten out of hand. People have become increasingly brazen about openly ignoring this ordinance. Police ask beachgoers to know and respect the law. They will continue to enforce it. The Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority will host an information session and Q&A regarding the county's project to replace/rehabilitate its wastewater pipeline underground along the county’s stretch of Bay Avenue between Eighth Street and 31st Street. The meeting will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 17 at the Howard Stainton Senior Center within the Ocean City Community Center at 18th Street and Simpson Avenue. I encourage all residents and everybody who travels this stretch of Bay Avenue to attend. Work will begin after Labor Day and will require detours throughout the off-season. See more information on the meeting. Warm regards, Mayor Jay Gillian