Australian city deploys fake snakes against invading starling flocks

Plastic snakes are being deployed in an effort to scare away tens of thousands of starlings that have invaded a small city in Australia.

Authorities in Tamworth have used water cannon and large nets in unsuccessful attempts to get rid of the hordes.

Officials there are hoping that brightly coloured plastic snakes could bring an end to months of misery.



The local mayor has insisted that pungent droppings have become a major problem.

Leave your car under one of the trees for an hour to go shopping, he said, and you probably will not recognise it when you get back.

The latest weapons in the fight between man and bird are pink, orange, green and black plastic snakes, which are being tied to branches. Officials believe there is a good chance the starlings will be scared away, although there does not appear to be strong scientific evidence to back this up.