Liverpool, which will be celebrated as the European Capital of Culture in 2008, is apparently disgusted with the flocks of oversized pigeons that live throughout the city and has opted to use a robotic peregrine falcon to scare them away.
Peregrine falcons are the natural predator of pigeons. The robotic peregrine falcon, known as a "robop", can move, flick its wings and squawk to scare away pigeons. Ten robotoc peregrines are being placed throughout the city center to scare the pigeons away and the public is being admonished not to feed the birds.
"We need to get the message across that anyone who feeds the birds intentionally, or occasionally with leftovers such as sausage rolls or burgers, are responsible for our streets being so crowded with these birds," said Councillor Berni Turner, Liverpool city council's executive member for the environment.
"We want to be able to showcase our city centre in our birthday year and of course in 2008," She added, "so it's essential we tackle this issue now and educate members of the public that if there's no food, there'll be no pigeons."
The city council uses the equivalent of 88 man hours a day cleaning droppings from streets and buildings, at a cost of £160,000 a year.
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Hmmm ... I foresee an arms race between the robo-falcons and the remote-controlled pigeons of doom. Their epic battles are coming soon to a theatre near you.