NORWICH – City officials think they’ve found an inexpensive and effective way to lessen the crow population this fall and winter.
The secret weapon: Laser pointers.
The program worked well last year in its trial run, Development Specialist Todd Dreyer said, and deterred crows from roosting in the city’s east and west side parks, where in they past they had congregated by the hundreds.
The pointers cost between $10 and $20, much cheaper and more effective than the birds of prey the city hired a few years ago, Dreyer said.
“The laser isn’t harmful. It gently persuades them and gets them flying,” said Dreyer. “We did that a couple times for a few weeks early in the season, and the crows decided to find another spot. And we found that once they decide to no longer roost in a spot, they don’t come back.”
The city hired local handyman Warren Bates to go out at night for two weeks last October to push the crows from the downtown parks. He’ll be at it again this season, once the first few start showing up.
“I’d just point it at them. I don’t even think they feel it,” said Bates. “But they don’t like it and they take right off.”
Bates said after a few days he could tell that less were coming back, and that there weren’t nearly as many roosting compared to years past.
“Some of them came back,” he said. “So I went out the next day and did it again.”
Bates worked for about two weeks last season, working one to two hours a night. He’ll do the same this year, except with additional target areas.
“We have to watch where they go,” said Dreyer. “This year is going to be a more directed effort to care of it. I think with Warren helping we’re in good hands.”
Mayor Joseph Maiurno agreed: “We appreciate everything Warren did for us last year and we’re happy he’s available to help again this fall.”
City Codes Officer Jason Lawrence suggested the idea of using laser pointers after talking with codes officials in Auburn, where crows have been a problem for years.
Daryl Jenks, Senior DEC Wildlife Biologist, Region 7, said that crows generally migrate to towns that are surrounded by farms in the outlying areas.
“They feed in the agricultural fields by day, and come into town at night,” he said. “It’s warmer in the city. With the buildings, the wind might not be as fierce as it is on a hill.”
Crows are migratory, Jenks said, but they don’t head south like other birds because they don’t have to.
“They are like geese,” he explained. “They only go as far south as they have to, given they can find an adequate food supply.”
Jenks said some communities will use shell crackers, which are similar to fireworks, except fired from a gun. The noise and the light scare the birds. He said he’s heard of laser pointers being used, and that any kind of organized harassment, early and often, will deter crows from roosting in an area.
“The earlier you start, the better,” Jenks said. “It’s hard to get them to leave completely ... you’re just kind of moving the problem around the area.”
Dreyer and Mayor Joseph Maiurano said Bates will focus on downtown, and also move toward the area near St. Bartholomew’s Church, where crows began to roost after leaving the parks.
Bates, a resident of S. Mitchell Street, said hollering at the birds wasn’t effective when he tried in the past.
“That doesn’t work that good, not like the laser does,” he said.
Bates can often be seen around town mowing lawns and doing odd jobs. He volunteers at most of the local events and festivals, and occasionally picks up garbage in the park on his own time.
“It’s something to do, better than sitting at home,” Bates said.
As for his current job: “I think it helps. Someone’s got to do it.”