Birdman Neil's a real high flier (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Birdman Neil's a real high flier

8:02am Tuesday 18th August 2009 in Behind the News By Sally Clifford

I’d love to say I’m a bit of a Billy Casper,” laughs Neil Westwood.

He’s referring to the character in the 1960s British film Kes which told the story of the relationship between the young boy and his beloved kestrel.

Kes became Billy’s pet, allowing the young lad to escape the bullying and abuse he endured in his home and school life.

Bird-lover Neil’s brood, Lucky the Harris Hawk and Leo the Lanner Falcon, who live in a specially-built aviary at the bottom of his Gildersome garden, aren’t pets – they are the tools of his trade.

Neil often patrols the hallowed turf of the county’s sports stadiums after buying into the Native Bird Control franchise.

NBC is a national organisation covering the whole of the UK. Neil is one of 31 area managers throughout the country. He looks after Bradford, Leeds, Halifax, Harrogate and York.

In one of their jobs, Neil and feathered friend Lucky quelled a pigeon problem at Leeds United’s Elland Road ground.

“Lucky chases pigeons, but he doesn’t catch them because he isn’t quick enough. Then I reward him with food,” explains Neil.

They also discouraged a brood of 20 or so pigeons from inhabiting a local church belfry.

Neil’s current assignment is at Bradford’s Madni Jamia Masjid mosque in Thornbury Road, Bradford.

The construction company creating the minarets sought his advice when they became concerned the mosque could become a haven for pigeons.

“The minarets are about 60ft high and are made from stone, and they were concerned pigeons would come and roost or even nest. They called us in to give advice, so we’ve gone in and used netting that blends in with the stonework so you cannot see it,” says Neil.

Even on days when he doesn’t take his birds to work, their care is of paramount importance. Neil weighs them every day and their diets are managed. He explains his birds won’t kill, which is why NBC use them as a green and holistic approach to pest control.

He explains the company was involved in scientific research testing the effectiveness of using birds of prey in an urban environment. “They will frighten the life out of wild birds.”

NBC’s high-profile assignments include stemming Trafalgar Square’s pigeon problem and discouraging them from roosting at Westminster Palace; and dealing with birds at Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium and Portsmouth’s Fratton Park.

Neil had to undergo an extensive training course run in association with the Hawk Board. Once qualified, he began working with his birds, which he hires through NBC. The birds are all captive-bred in the UK.

One of Neil’s more unusual assignments, without his birds, was to safely relocate a peacock found roaming around the grounds of West Yorkshire Fire Service’s Birkenshaw headquarters to Castle Howard, near York.

Neil spent five days trying to catch the bird along with fire service staff.

Originally there were two peacocks. One was collected by the RSPCA as it had a cyst on its eye and, following its operation, the bird was rehomed on a farm, but the remaining peacock began damaging cars – after spotting its reflection in the paintwork.

Neil eventually caught the bird and took it to Castle Howard where it is now strutting around the stately home with its new-found peahen friends.

Flying birds of prey is in contrast to Neil’s previous profession. “I was in IT, working in London. I came to Leeds to start a business in recruitment which I did for ten years, then I got a bit bored because I’ve always been the outdoors type.

“I started looking for a franchise opportunity. There were stacks of websites selling everything – sandwich shops, coffee bars. This was different and it appealed to me being outdoors as I’d spent years in the office in front of a laptop. This was taking me out of my comfort zone.”

Growing up in Birmingham and living in London, Neil realised he was missing out on the great outdoors. “It’s very easy in modern life to ignore what is out there from a nature point of view.

“I always love being outdoors, especially in Yorkshire, where you’ve got two national parks on your doorstep,” he says.

Working with the birds gives Neil the best of both worlds. “I love the variety. I love working with the birds and I like solving people’s problems.”