Also called: Bird Abatement Specialist
Uses trained falcons and hawks to scare pest birds away from airports, landfills, vineyards, and stadiums.
Arrives at a vineyard at dawn, flies a falcon over the vines so flocks of starlings flee before they eat the grapes, and keeps detailed flight logs for each bird.
Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 2 years after high school. Federal and state falconry permits, which require a 2-year apprenticeship.
Ways in: Apprenticeship, Certification. Training cost: Under $15k.
Growing about average. Niche.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Drones, lasers and noise devices compete for bird control jobs; live hawks remain effective and stay hands-on work.
Classes: Biology, Environmental science, Agriscience (FFA), Physical education.
Official data: O*NET occupation 39-2011.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.