The European Capital of Culture

In hopes of scaring away pigeons, the English city of Liverpool is introducing mechanical falcons that squawk and flap their wings.

The pesky pigeons, which feast on junk food and then foul the city center with droppings, are an embarrassment to Liverpool, chosen as next year's European Capital of Culture.

Workers spend hours daily scraping up droppings at a cost of about $320,000 a year, the City Council said. It is buying 10 Robops, short for robotic bird of prey, for about $4,000 each. Two have been installed.

The city had weighed several options, including introducing live falcons (like the one above).