Fri Apr 20, 9:14 AM ET

A flock of robotic falcons has been dispatched to tackle an influx of
obese pigeons who are increasing in number and size thanks to an
unnatural diet of fastfood.

The mechanical birds -- called 'Robops' -- have been placed on
rooftop locations around the British city of Liverpool, and will flap
their wings and squawk loudly to scare the problem pigeons away.

The initiative was launched to deal with the birds who are now
considered a nuisance in the city, flying at people and leaving
droppings everywhere, Liverpool council said.

The pigeon problem has been exacerbated by residents in the city
feeding the birds -- whose natural diet is seeds and insects -- with
take-away leftovers. "We need to get the message across that anyone
who feeds the birds intentionally, or occasionally with leftovers
such as sausage rolls or burgers, is responsible for our streets
being so crowded with these birds," Berni Turner, Liverpool city
council's executive member for the environment said.

The falcons, created by a Scottish company, resemble a Peregrine
Falcon - which is a natural predator of pigeons.

As a result of the scaring techniques and people not feeding the
birds, it is hoped that the pigeon population will move out of the
city center and into Liverpool's parks and green spaces.

The Council's Environmental Health manager Andy Hull said that the
scheme was an attempt to improve the health of the pigeons, as their
current diet is unhealthy and dangerous.

However, experts have condemned the scheme, saying that the council
needs to tackle the source of the problem, rather than the symptoms.

Emma Haskell, Director of PiCAS UK, the leading independent advisory
body on the issue of bird control in Britain said her organization
had done studies with mechanical deterrents and had found them to be
completely ineffective.

"We believe that this is a complete waste of time...and a waste of
money," she said. "Pigeons are a highly intelligent bird and they
soon realize that these mechanical things are not a threat."

Liverpool has been named European Capital of Culture in 2008, but the
city council currently uses the equivalent of 88 man-hours a day
cleaning droppings from streets and buildings, at a cost of 160,000 a
year.

"The robotic hawks are almost laughable as a method of control and
the cost associated with buying and installing the product... simply
cannot be justified," PiCAS said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070420/sc_nm/britain_robofalcon_pigeons_d
c