Seagulls and pigeons are making life difficult for tourists in Venice. To protect the stars of the Venice Film Festival, which has been taking place since Wednesday, from aggressive birds, the hoteliers of the Lido are using falcons. Falconer Samuel Bozzato was commissioned to protect the outdoor tables from pigeons and seagulls with twelve trained falcons.
The seagulls in particular have become a problem, attacking guests while they dine on the hotel terraces. “We let the falcons fly an hour before dinner time, so that they send a clear signal to the seagulls in the area. The falcons do not attack seagulls and pigeons, they only chase them away,” Bozzato emphasizes, according to media reports.
“Special relationship of trust”
The seagulls would then actually disappear, it was said. Training a falcon takes at least two years. “A special relationship of trust must be built up with your falconer,” says Bozzato.
In the fight against the seagull plague, some hoteliers are getting creative: they are giving travelers a water pistol so they can defend themselves against the aerial menace that likes to pounce on ice cream cones and pizza slices.
Aggressive seagulls and pigeons as a nuisance
The animals have become a terror for the Italian lagoon city. The large birds pounce on the plates of the guests in St. Mark’s Square who want to enjoy their breakfast, lunch or a delicious ice cream in front of the restaurants. It is not unusual for the ice cream cones to be literally snatched from the hands of the children.
The fishmongers at the Rialto Bridge also do not like the brazen birds of prey that steal their fish straight from their crates. Herring gulls in particular have become a serious problem in Venice. As soon as someone eats outside, the large birds with their pointed beaks quickly attack.
Source: Krone
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