There are those who try a falconer, using birds of prey trained for frighten the birds. Those who hunt them with sticks, and those who use water pistols… A Venezia the question of pigeons and seagulls is deeply felt, and there is no shortage of bizarre methods to keep birds away from tourists. Many solutions, sometimes very creative for "Fight" a common problem that is deeply felt: that of pigeons and seagulls that annoy the customers of bars, restaurants and hotels. As told by Prima Venezia, the theme in the Lagoon is very much felt, so much so that some have invented truly unique initiatives.
There are those who provide customers with sticks to ward off birds, who even deliver water pistols to customers. Those who frequent Venetian clubs know this well: the birds are always lurking and it is practically mandatory, to avoid the raid, to keep food covered on the tables. Sometimes a hand on a bowl of chips is enough, but sometimes the ravenous birds have the upper hand. In some cases, a second is enough, and here the precious booty ends up in the beak of some pigeon. Or some seagull.
The video of the tourist who didn't even have time to finish the ice cream, because it was stolen by the infamous “Ciruzzo”. In short, to quote one of the catchphrases of the moment, the "Poor seagull" may have lost his partner ... but not hunger. So here is the answer of the restaurateurs: water guns… But the situation cannot be liquidated (pardon the pun), simply with a toy. Also because until about fifteen years ago the problem was represented by pigeons.
Now Venetians and tourists have to contend with herring gulls, much larger and even more "unscrupulous". Since 2008, when the then mayor Massimo Cacciari had introduced the ban on feeding pigeons in Piazza San Marco, there has been a change of pace in the local fauna. That was, perhaps, the moment that saw the presence of seagulls increase in number. In addition to water pistols, for example, in some luxury hotels, the falconer route has also been tried: these, thanks to their trained raptors, are able to scare the birds. But this service, in any case, as well as not resolving it is also quite expensive (First Brescia).