NORWICH – How do you control a large crow population and the problems they bring? That was the question one alderman recently asked at a meeting of the City of Norwich Common Council. The answer, as it turns out, may be easier than it originally appeared.
“We have 160 jobs that could be leaving as a result of Procter & Gamble closing, and possibly 100 more through Camp Pharsalia,” said Alderman Robert Jeffrey. “We need to be able to sell Norwich to businesses looking for a place to locate.” Jeffrey explained the increased crow population creates an eyesore that is one more factor to detract from the appeal of Norwich.
The council is not the first agency to take issue with the crows. The matter has also been discussed by the Business Improvement District and mentioned at other committee meetings. It’s also a favorite topic in “30 Seconds.”
The council discussed the possibility of obtaining a falconer to visit the Norwich area. According to City Planning and Community Development Specialist Todd Dreyer, a falconer is a person who uses trained birds to scare crows away. Falconers are used in many large metropolitan areas to control the crow population. Similar measures have been used in Auburn, an area that sees approximately 25,000 to 50,000 crows each winter. While the measures have helped, First Ward Alderman Robert Carey told the council, “Auburn hasn’t eradicated the crow problem.”
Department of Public Works Supervisor Carl Ivarson also discussed the possibility that eliminating some of the trees in East and West Park, as outlined in the BID’s park revitalization plan, may help to alleviate the situation.
Dreyer explained the parks plan calls for the largest oak tree to remain in the park, and since the plan to restructure the parks is still in the planning phase, a more immediate solution may be needed. “Even without the trees in the park, the crows are drawn to the city at night,” Dreyer said.
The Planning and Community Development Specialist said he had investigated various options involving falconers, and explained that Hamilton High School has a falconering club that may be willing to help with the crow problem.
The council plans to work on other factors that detract from the aesthetics of the city in the coming year as well. They have discussed an initiative to target littering, a plan to help homeowners find the resources to paint their houses, the continuation of the sidewalk program and a focus on city codes.