A remote-controlled mechanical kestrel is the latest bizarre suggestion in a Tayside town’s war on seagulls.
Arbroath councillor Martyn Geddes wants residents to “get creative” and match his idea for a toy plane or helicopter in the shape of a winged predator that could be used to scare away nuisance birds.
The strange solution follows an equally unusual effort from the leader of Arbroath Community Council Ian Watson, who last year investigated the theory that gulls could be frightened of the colour red after they refused to touch a piece of his daughter’s iced birthday cake.
Mr Geddes said he wants to find out if a man-made bird of prey would hold a similar fear for the pests.
He added: “It was an idea I heard about somewhere but I don’t know if the aerodynamics would work. The question is: if it is just the shape of a kestrel, would that be enough to scare them off?
“I hear people often speaking about problems with gulls but nothing seems to work. At least if there were a few different systems suggested then something might work.
“It could be something a bit odd. If somebody can come up with the right idea that changes everything. We won’t know if something works until we try to solve it.”
Angus Council already uses birds of prey to deter gulls in identified problem areas.
Last year the authority agreed to paint red patches at gull “hotspots” in Arbroath following Mr Watson’s brainwave, however the scheme was not progressed any further.
A wide range of gull deterrents are available to buy including static decoy owls, tethered hawk kites, netting, steel spikes, ultrasonic scarers and even propane gas cannons.
A spokesman for online trader Gull Stop said devices similar to Mr Geddes’ mooted machine are already on sale in the US.
He added: “We have actually been invited over to America to look at these but it is not something we stock.
“The down side would be it is quite difficult to fly these things accurately and they are quite an expensive piece of equipment.
“I believe they are good for golf courses and things like that but might not be so suitable for a public area.”