Starlings in Rome create beauty and muck

Listen Listen to Duncan Kennedy's report from Rome (3 mins 49 secs)

Five million starlings produce a great deal of mess below

The skies above Rome have become a tourist attraction, with all eyes focussed on millions of starlings flying in massive formations above the city.

It is a record year for starlings in Rome with an estimated five million of the birds arriving from north-western Europe for the city's milder winter months.

The swarms are certainly an impressive sight, but it's not all good news.

Playing the sound of a starling in distress disperses the swarms

Five million birds make a massive noise as well as a massive smelly mess.

Tons of starling droppings land on the streets of Rome and people are not happy about having to clean it off their cars, bikes and, not least, themselves.

So now the city authorities have decided to do something about it. Duncan Kennedy reports from Rome.

First broadcast 2 December 2008

To watch the starlings swarming over Rome, click here.