What is "robop"

"Robop" is short for robotic bird of prey and is the name for a mechanical peregrine falcon that squawks, flaps its wings and sounds like the real bird. The purpose of the Robop is to scare away pigeons and gulls. The product is manufactured by Robop Limited of East Lothian, United Kingdom, was invented by Bob McIntyre and developed by the company since 2001.

In April 2007 the Liverpool city council purchased 10 Robops at a unit cost of £3,000, in an attempt to rid the town center of pigeons. It is unclear whether this has had much success but a smaller scale effort at Swansea University was effective. The birds are also used at airports, golf courses, shopping centres and office blocks across the UK and further afield in Europe and the USA. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in the UK have applauded the initiative as a means to get away from attempts to poison and starve pigeons, citing the eradication program in London under Mayor Ken Livingstone.