THE sound of sharp claws dancing on AC units, crows swooping down into open garbage dumpsters, others perched watchfully on tree limbs, antennas and rooftops. The slightest provocation sends them into a frenzy of screeches and caws, filling our hearts with terror. You would be forgiven for thinking this sounds like a scene from Hitchcock’s “The Birds” but in fact it’s just another day spent in the company of crows. The sight of these birds living and nesting unmolestedly among the human population has become very common and equally problematic. In recent years, their numbers have increased with no signs of abatement. Sitting outside has become something of a dodging contest as the crows cheerfully dispose of their finished meals in our backyard. The scattered bones on the ground have led many to believe that we have excavated some prehistoric creature. (Perhaps we should sell tickets!) The various swimming pools in the compounds all over the city have become their personal watering holes.
This fearsome creature’s reputation owes much to myth and legend. Crows and ravens have long been associated with evil omens, serving as messengers for the devil. This connection was effectively exploited in the film, “The Omen.” Who among us can forget the terrifying sight of that solitary bird perched high on the bare branches of a tree, motionless, yet staring with deadly intent at the passing car.
Determined to separate fact from myth, I delved into what I could find on the subject and I was astounded by the results of my research. It was most interesting to learn that these birds are part of the larger order, called passeriformes, which includes the beautifully-plumed and lovely-sounding songbirds such as canaries and nightingales. In addition, despite their vulgarity and omnivorous tastes — which extends to carrion, insects, other birds’ eggs as well as berries and grains, even mangoes as I recently found out firsthand — crows also eat many harmful insects and are considered the most intelligent and adaptable of birds. They exhibit this intelligence by imitating a large number of sounds, including whistles, cats, machines and even the human voice. Crows are also curious; shiny objects fascinate them and they have been known to swoop down and fly off with bits of glass, rings and keys.
No amount of information or recital of facts is going to make us change our minds about these creatures. Yet what can we do to chase them away? Have a crow shot to kill some and scare the others away? That would bring the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) and RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and who knows what other capital letter organizations down mercilessly on us. So on we struggle, with no hope, no knight in shining straw to scare them and chase them away. In the dead of night, claws scratching and prancing on the AC lull me to sleep. Ahh! The soothing sounds of the city!