ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The City of Albuquerque has shut down the New Mexico Veterans Memorial over an invasive, non-native species of bird. The City of Albuqeurque’s Parks and Recreation Department said around 50,000 European starlings have invaded the park on Louisiana near Gibson Blvd.
The birds are not known to attack people but the city considers them a pest as a large amount of their droppings have left the grounds “unsightly and unwelcoming.” “You know, this is a sacred space that we want people to come and enjoy and visit, so we just want it cleaned and properly maintained. So we are more concerned about that. But, yeah, it’s a place where we don’t think people would want to visit right now under the conditions it’s at now,” said Deputy Director Dennis Vasquez, City of Albuquerque Parks and Recreation Department.
The city said it will use non-lethal methods to get rid of the birds and discourage roosting. once they are gone, they will clean and sanitize the memorial.