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On several holidays (in southern Europe) I have noticed a bird handler exercising a bird of prey in hotel grounds. The handlers often wear clothing advertising shows.
Why is this?
I don't see lion tamers or any other acts bringing their work on holiday. Is it a policy of the hotels to discourage gulls and pigeons?
Typically this is for two reasons (and you have hit on them both in your question)
Advertising for their shows is essential - they need to drum up interest so people will go, pay their money and watch.
But they also perform a service for hotels and urban areas by discouraging pigeons, gulls and other scavengers that can make a mess, cause damage, and generally make a horel or resort look worse.
I'd really like to see lions used to discourage scavengers, though :-)
