Rome forced to seal off slimy road caked with droppings from birds that binged on olives

Concerned for the safety of citizens, authorities in Rome were forced to close several roads on the banks of the Tiber for most of Saturday while refuse workers attempted to hose the streets back into a safe state. The roads were reportedly caked with droppings from birds which had been binging on olives. Heavy downpours washed the droppings left by millions of starlings from trees and it combined with rotting leaves to form a slimy layer so treacherous it reportedly led to car and motorcycle accidents.
Starlings swarming above Rome’s historic buildings are one of the iconic sights of the capital. But their droppings are actually damaging the monuments tourists are flocking to see.

This season, efforts to stop them congregating in the plane trees lining the Tiber got a late start because of budget cutbacks, the Guardian reported. Normally the city authorities broadcast sounds of screeching starlings in distress to get them to move on. Sabrina Alfonsi, who is president of the central Rome municipality, has also enlisted the help of five Texan falcons to terrorise the starlings.
The little birds are attracted by the bright lights of the city to spend the night on its historic buildings after gorging on olives from the outskirts during the day.