PROTECTING hospitals from thousands of nuisance birds is not an occupation for everyone.

But with the sight, stealth and speed of four apex predators to back you up, moving on nesting seagulls and swarms of pigeons becomes a "relaxing job".

Andy Crowle has been Southampton General Hospital's falconer for two and a half years, working with his own four birds of prey to keep the grounds and vents clear of troublesome birds.

The 57-year-old owns four birds- hawks Willow and Eric and falcons Storm and Rouge- that he has trained himself to fly off around the roofs of the hospital and come back to him when called.

A falconer is a person who keeps, trains or hunts with falcons, hawks, or other birds of prey.

Falconry has been traced back as far as 680 BC, where Chinese records have been found describing falconry.

Since a child, Andy has had a passion for feathered friends keeping finches and parakeets at eight-years-old.

He said: "I can remember asking my Dad for the British Book of Birds"

"I always wanted birds of prey but my Dad was a race pigeon fancier.

"Birds of prey and pigeons do not get along!"

Having spent 21 years in the RAF as an engineer and then 17 years in the Aerospace industry, Andy decided to take his passion for birds one step further and become an official falconer.

He added: "I swapped that all in for a much more relaxing job with my birds!"

Andy applied for a position at NBC Enviro- an independent environmental consultancy- as a falconer and was given the opportunity to work at Southampton General Hospital.

Before Andy and his birds got the job, there were more than 2,000 pigeons in, on and around the hospital, nesting in air vents and debris from the flock building up blocking gutters and drains.

The team have since cleared 95 per cent of the nuisance pigeons.

Andy said: "The pigeons cause a lot of mess and that mess can cause a health hazard.

"My birds are here to let the pigeons know that there are predators in the area and move them on.

"I try not to let my birds catch the pigeons and tempt them in with some nice, juicy chicken!"