Ford’s Feathered Protector: How a Hawk is Keeping Pigeons at Bay
Ford’s newest hire is quite unlike any other employee on the factory floor. Named El Charro, this hawk works short shifts, enjoys his meals before clocking in, and has wings instead of wheels. Tasked with an unusual but critical job, El Charro patrols the Hermosillo assembly plant in Mexico, where Ford manufactures over 300,000 trucks and SUVs annually. His mission? To scare away pigeons that have become a costly nuisance for the facility.
According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, pigeons were wreaking havoc across the plant. These birds defaced freshly painted vehicles with droppings, infiltrated vital equipment, and even waited for doors to open so they could enter the premises. Ford’s initial attempts to deter the pigeons through non-lethal means—like playing recordings of larger birds and displaying predator eye replicas—proved ineffective. The persistent pigeons remained unphased.
A Natural Solution: Hiring a Falconer and a Hawk
Faced with these challenges, Ford’s management decided to bring in a falconer to provide a more natural and effective deterrent. The first hawk, Chalino, unfortunately, flew off with another hawk and never returned. But his successor, El Charro, was brought in July 2025 and has since become a key figure at the plant.
El Charro’s workday typically involves two to three hours of patrolling the facility. During these flights, he chases away pigeons and even guides staff to their nests, helping the team monitor and control the bird population more effectively. Ford reports that El Charro has completed over 300 flights and helped reduce signs of pigeon activity by approximately 80% in the areas under surveillance.
Ongoing Impact and Commitment
El Charro’s role doesn’t have a set end date. As one of the plant managers remarked, “El Charro has to ride every day here.” This ongoing commitment highlights how integrating natural wildlife management strategies can be a sustainable and impactful approach to solving industrial problems.
Using a hawk not only reduces the need for chemical repellents or disruptive noise tactics but also aligns with environmentally conscious pest control practices. Ford’s innovative approach demonstrates a blend of traditional falconry with modern manufacturing needs, showcasing an effective way to maintain both plant integrity and ecological balance.
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