The natural phenomenon that's shitting on Italians' lives

Millions of starlings arriving in Rome during the migration season create a spectacular sight in the sky, but cause a severe sanitary hazard for residents: slippery sidewalks, a pungent odor, and greasy droppings that ruin cars. The municipality uses lasers and recorded distress calls to disperse the flocks, without complete success.

Millions of starlings arriving in Rome during the migration season (October–February) create a spectacular sight in the sky, but cause a severe sanitary hazard for residents: slippery sidewalks, a pungent odor, and greasy droppings that ruin cars. Ornithologist Francesco Barberini estimates that more than four million individuals winter in the city, and total estimates for Greater Rome range from five to ten million birds. The droppings are acidic and sticky due to the olive diet, and ten million starlings produce about seven tons of droppings per night. The municipality uses loudspeakers playing recorded distress calls and laser beams to disperse the flocks, but the birds are unimpressed and move to a nearby tree. The debate on Italian social media continues, with some users noting that nature was there first.

The natural phenomenon that's shitting on Italians' lives