Posted on 12/28/2003 11:46:43 AM PST by UnklGene
FOR THE BIRDS: City plans an attack on a mob of crows that may number 60,000 to 80,000 -
By SAMANTHA SOMMER, News-Sun Staff Writer
At times, when Jodi Forshey passes by the new Lagonda Elementary School, she wonders whether she's in a Hitchcock movie.
It's not lovebirds that catch her eye. It's the crowds of creepy crows that have descended on Springfield this fall and winter.
"They don't bother me too much," said the Cecil Street resident who has seen hundreds of the crows perched on the school roof. “But they remind me of that movie ‘The Birds.’ ”
Springfield might have more crows residing here than people. Assistant City Manager Jim Bodenmiller estimates 60,000 to 80,000 of the birds have set up winter camp in town.
That seems to be up from past winters, Bodenmiller said, probably because the birds had a good mating season and are passing the word along that Springfield is a hot spot for the night.
"They come from all over the county and other counties, sometimes from 15 to 20 miles out," he said. "They're really intelligent and communicate with each other. They've probably determined that Springfield is a nice place."
Bodenmiller receives five to 10 calls a week from residents complaining about the birds.
So the city is teaming up with wildlife biologists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to exterminate possibly up to a third of the crow population.
To frighten away the crows, the city has used pyrotechnics similar to louder bottle rockets and firecrackers, as well as recorded crow distress calls played over a speaker system.
That moves the birds around so they don't stay in one place.
But the birds are a nuisance and a possible health threat, Bodenmiller said.
Whatever they roost on becomes coated with droppings, which stink. The droppings also can transmit the fungal disease histoplasmosis and crows are carriers of the West Nile virus.
"Because of the numbers we are dealing with, this is definitely a public nuisance," Bodenmiller said. "It's no fun at all to clean off sidewalk, yards, cars and rooftops day after day. There can also be health-related issues."
The extermination program should start in mid- to late-January, cost less than $5,000 and be spread over a couple of months.
The city wanted to start the program last year but had to wait for an environmental study to ensure killing the birds wouldn't harm the ecosystem.
The crows likely will be fed corn laced with poison, killing them in 12 to 36 hours.
The entire time the baiting stations are out, they will be monitored by a person, likely a USDA employee, to keep away other animals and people.
The poison won't affect animals that eat the dead birds.
City crews will pick up any dead crows they find in Springfield. If residents see them in their yards, it is safe to pick birds up with a bag or gloves and throw the carcasses in the trash, Bodenmiller said. They should then wash their hands.
The birds feed in the country before heading into the city to roost for the night. So Bodenmiller wants people who see their feeding spots to call or e-mail him with the locations. He can be reached at 324-7300 or jbodenmiller@ci.springfield.oh.us.
Residents also can help by not littering and covering trash.
"They really are drawn to litter — french fries and bread, anything left lying around," Bodenmiller said. "They are opportunistic and attracted to trash."
People also can rouse the roosting crows in their yards by banging on pots before the birds turn in for the night.
Charlotte Evans considers crows a nuisance. Lagonda Park sits down the hill from her and most of the time the crows stay there.
Often though, she has to deal with droppings blanketing her Cedarview Avenue back yard and she frequently hears loud squawking.
"Sometimes there are so many of them I'm afraid to put my dog out back," Evans said. "I don't know what they might do."
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.
"They really are drawn to litter — french fries and bread, anything left lying around," Bodenmiller said. "They are opportunistic and attracted to trash."
"Sometimes there are so many of them I'm afraid to put my dog out back," Evans said. "I don't know what they might do."
Springfield? Sounds like San Francisco to me.
FMCDH
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