Un maire déclare la guerre aux pigeons, et la perd

The mayor of Modena used the word ‘war’ in a communiqué announcing extra spikes, nets, and discouragement in the historic centre. The birds continued to occupy the ledges they already occupied.

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A week later, answering council questions, the mayor conceded that the ‘theatre of operations’ still contained pigeons, and that several new spikes had been used as perches. A deputy called this ‘a learning’. The communiqué was not withdrawn.

Lethal control is already constrained. The plan was architectural. Architecture lost a round.

YES IT'S REAL matched the communiqué to the later answers. The metaphor is the mayor’s. The result is the square’s. No person was harmed. Several statues remain under review.