Rome is flooded with flocks of starlings, birds are dispersed with the help of noise

In the sky over the capital of Italy, there is often an exciting sight of thousands of starlings circling in unison. Resting on poles and trees, birds cause a lot of inconvenience to people, the authorities decided to scare away flocks with loud noises, AFP reports.

Every year from October to February, millions of starlings are sent from Northern Europe to Italy in search of warm places for wintering.

Experts estimate that in 2022 there are from 500 thousand to 1 million starlings in Rome. Even on a clear day, the Romans have to open umbrellas to protect themselves from birds.

To disperse the flocks, people use the recording of the alarm cry of starlings. Sounds and light signals are not needed to completely drive the birds out of the city, but only to divide them into smaller groups. Recordings are played for about 10 minutes with interruptions, so the birds do not get used to the noise.

According to the Italian League for the Protection of Birds (LIPU), starlings spend the day collecting food in the countryside, and at night they fly to the city, where the temperature is slightly higher. Good lighting helps birds to fly away in advance at the sight of predators.