Murals plan to save birds from ‘wall of death’

Murals could be painted on a Yorkshire seaside town’s “wall of death” which geese have been crashing into for years, mistaking it for the sky.

The pale coloured end wall of Scarborough apartment complex The Sands is believed to have claimed the lives of dozens of migrating Canada geese.

The confused birds break their necks and slump to the ground, leaving the wall – which stands directly in their flight path to the North Sea – peppered with dents.

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Fears are growing that swans travelling to and from nearby Peasholm Park could also be casualties, along with other wild birds.

Scarborough councillors have voted to investigate the idea of drawing murals on the wall.

It was agreed that council officials should look into the possibility and report back on the options.

Scarborough artist Alan Stuttle has been calling for the wall to become a giant canvas for public art. “It is such a shame so many birds are being destroyed by hitting a brick wall which could easily be rectified by a few colours,” he said.

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“I have always felt this looked like a big solid canvas crying out for a piece of art.”

Owners Escape 2 the Sands installed LED lighting to improve the situation after dark but the owners of the £190,000 apartments claim it is ineffective.