City crow population performs its annual disappearing act
NORWICH – Early-rising downtown residents may have noticed a surprising silence blanketing the city in the past two days, and the community as a whole has something to look forward to besides the warming temperatures – the season of the crow has ended.
“It’s awfully strange,” commented Garf’s Deli employee Denise LaFever, who regularly opens the downtown business in the early morning. “It’s really eerie to not see them out there anymore. I guess I’d just gotten used to them.”
Mayor Joe Maiurano said that it’s not unusual for the growing crow population to migrate elsewhere in late March, but warned that the fowl infestation will most likely return in the fall, as it has for years.
“This is a problem that we’ve all been aware of, and the crow population does seem to be growing every year,” said Maiurano. “It’s a problem that has been extremely difficult to solve, but we are preparing a new plan of attack for their return.”
The mayor reported that the city has contacted Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) for help in combating the yearly influx of the highly intelligent bird, and CCE Horticulture and Natural Resources Educator Becky Hargrave said that she is “already working on it.”
“We’re trying to track down experts for suggestions and strategies that will be more effective,” stated Hargrave. “It’s very difficult to change animals from their natural behavior, however.”
In the past, the city has attempted to drive the birds, a major nuisance according to city officials, away, utilizing a hired falconer and laser lights, but Maiurano said both efforts saw limited success, and the crows “seem to adapt easily” to every solution attempted thus far.
Ward 6 Alderman Robert Jeffrey, at Tuesday’s Common Council meeting, once again raised the issue of the crows in the city, and stated that “it’s a real problem” and one that he’s personally encountered. The mayor reported that the problem might be expensive to address, approximately $8,000 to $10,000 per year, and the council unanimously agreed that it would be well worth the cost.
“It’s definitely a concern and we need to clean it up,” said Jeffrey. “We want people to see the business district and our community as attractive.”
The East and West Parks, which are slated for major renovations this spring and summer, are currently awash in crow droppings, which, in the past, have completely obscured sidewalks, benches, monuments and parked cars.
“It’s awfully strange,” commented Garf’s Deli employee Denise LaFever, who regularly opens the downtown business in the early morning. “It’s really eerie to not see them out there anymore. I guess I’d just gotten used to them.”
Mayor Joe Maiurano said that it’s not unusual for the growing crow population to migrate elsewhere in late March, but warned that the fowl infestation will most likely return in the fall, as it has for years.
“This is a problem that we’ve all been aware of, and the crow population does seem to be growing every year,” said Maiurano. “It’s a problem that has been extremely difficult to solve, but we are preparing a new plan of attack for their return.”
The mayor reported that the city has contacted Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) for help in combating the yearly influx of the highly intelligent bird, and CCE Horticulture and Natural Resources Educator Becky Hargrave said that she is “already working on it.”
“We’re trying to track down experts for suggestions and strategies that will be more effective,” stated Hargrave. “It’s very difficult to change animals from their natural behavior, however.”
In the past, the city has attempted to drive the birds, a major nuisance according to city officials, away, utilizing a hired falconer and laser lights, but Maiurano said both efforts saw limited success, and the crows “seem to adapt easily” to every solution attempted thus far.
Ward 6 Alderman Robert Jeffrey, at Tuesday’s Common Council meeting, once again raised the issue of the crows in the city, and stated that “it’s a real problem” and one that he’s personally encountered. The mayor reported that the problem might be expensive to address, approximately $8,000 to $10,000 per year, and the council unanimously agreed that it would be well worth the cost.
“It’s definitely a concern and we need to clean it up,” said Jeffrey. “We want people to see the business district and our community as attractive.”
The East and West Parks, which are slated for major renovations this spring and summer, are currently awash in crow droppings, which, in the past, have completely obscured sidewalks, benches, monuments and parked cars.
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