At times it has rained snakes at the Townsville Railway Station . To combat birds building nests in and defecating in the area , as many as 50 imitation snakes were hung from on high ... only trouble was that due to the heat from the metal roofing the rubbery serpents melted, parts dropping down like pieces for a stir fry near startled people on the platform .
Plastic ones were tried to overcome the frightening snake showers. However , they have not proved much better as today only two can be seen hanging near the public address speakers, at top , daubed with unsightly bird droppings.
Travellers approaching the booking office are surprised by a sign warning about snakes. A nest has been built next to another speaker by birds not scared by the imported bogus snakes.
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Spirit of Queensland snakes into Townsville aka Birdsville .
In fairness to all those snakes who disintegrated in the line of duty , it must be said that many birds were frightened away from the station. But not those cheeky Indian Myna birds, first imported into Melbourne in 1862 to control insects in market gardens, then sent to North Queensland to combat sugarcane pests ... another cane toad-like disaster. Today the Mynas compete against native birds for food and nesting spots . Perhaps live Cobras in railway refreshment rooms might be the solution .
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