Bird poo causes major havoc in Rome

LOCAL authorities can't afford to clean up the starling poo covering Rome's streets this year.

Even cars in Rome are covered in starling poo. Picture: Corriere Della Serra

STARLINGS have been flocking to Rome for decades, but this year financial cuts have left Italy's capital covered in poo ... literally.

The distinctive birds have been spending their winters in Rome for decades, at first settling in the outskirts of town and then moving closer and closer into the main hub, drawn to the heat radiating from the city buildings. Today it is estimated that around 1.5 million birds travel to Rome - one wave in October and one wave in January. News_Image_File: Starlings descend on Rome. Picture: Flickr Ed Yourdon

They live a pretty nice life while in Rome. The starlings spend their days eating olives in the nearby olive groves scattered around the city suburbs, then they return to the centre of town in the evenings ... and do their thing ... in streets, on cars, on buildings and on statutes.

In the past local authorities had the budget to minimise the mess, implementing novel strategies like mimicking loud falcon cries (to scare the birds away) and pruning the olive trees.

This year, however, budgets were cut and local authorities were not able to take the same measures, leaving residents and travellers to fend for themselves.News_Image_File: Rome's Lungotevere had to be temporarily closed to protect residents and visitors from danger. Picture: Flickr: taym taym

People running for cover and opening up umbrellas to protect themselves from the shower of poo has been a common sight, and one of Rome's greenest boulevards, had to be temporarily closed because of the high risk for both pedestrians and vehicles.

Who knew bird poo could cause such havoc?