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Temperatures in Rome, Italy have been unseasonably warm. As a result, millions of migrating starlings have found nightly roosts in the plane trees along the banks of the River Tiber creating streets slick with guano. This bird poop covers everything including cars, benches, cobblestones and the locals know to carry umbrellas.
During the day the starlings gorge on the olive groves outside Rome. At night they come into the warmer city. Recent rains have made the problem worse creating dangerous conditions for motorists, bikes and even pedestrians.
Five hawks from Texas were enlisted to try to scare away the birds but this attempt failed. So now the streets have been closed off and city workers brought in to clean up the mess. At night, men in hazmat suits patrol using bullhorns to scare away the birds.
Colder weather might be the solution as the birds should choose to carry on their migration south in search of warmer climes.
