A MURMURATION of city councillors got in a flap over starling droppings on Bedford Row and how best to deal with the native birds’ mess.
Award-winning Limerick writer and satirist Blindboy Boatclub recently highlighted the “prodigious laminar of birdsh*t” on the city thoroughfare on his popular podcast after a fall from his bike – a phenomenon that has made the pedestrian street a place of peculiar pilgrimage with tourists.
However, during the September meeting of the Metropolitan District of Limerick City and County Council, some soul-searching was done on how best to deal with the aerial bombardments.
“I don’t know what we’re going to do – buy a lot of small nappies!” suggested Fine Gael councillor Daniel Butler.
“I don’t know if there’s anything we can do, it’s difficult. But it is causing issues for people there that are eating outdoors. I know it has been made a joke of online, but at the same time, it has serious consequences for businesses there.”
According to Independent councillor Maria Donoghue, the Council needs to cut the underside of the trees on Bedford Row, making it easier to clean the area from bird foul. She also suggested this would also allow people to see the names of shops which, she claims, are obscured by the trees.
Director of the Metropolitan District, Kieran Lehane, told the meeting that the Council is working with an ecologist on the pruning of the trees, but pointed out that they are also an important feature on Bedford Row.
“For some reason, the exact same trees are on Lower Bedford Row, and the starlings don’t go there. So, if we have an ornithologist on the Council, let me know,” he suggested.
Fine Gael councillor Sarah Kiely took a more primeval approach to the problem.
“Did you consider fake predators?” she asked Council management.
“I know that works for someone I know in another area.”
