Crow-dispersal methods to be tested in Albany this week

Name withheld

peg2323

10:25 PM on November 30, 2009

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore peg2323. Show DetailsHide Details

I'm really appalled by this. he city has nothing better to do or spend tax revenue on than frightening harmless birds?

I found the following information online, which suggests that trying to disperse crows will simply make the perceived problem worse:

"Experts such as Kevin McGowan, a Cornell University ornithologist who studies crows, along with many others, say that long term success of similar dispersal techniques in other cities have failed and more often than not, made the situation worse because there is no way to predict where the crows will set up camp next, which partly explains the increase in population in cities that never had such problem with crows."

The notion that the droppings of these birds is messy and a nuisance is ridiculous given the amount of mad-made garbage that is strewn throughout the Delaware Neighborhood by willful humans each day. As for noise: how is the chatter of birds once a day (the crows mainly gather at twilight) any worse than the honking of car horns or playing of loud stereo systems by rude drivers, or the horrific whine of leaf blowers?

These birds are an integral part of our eco-system and interfering with their roosting patterns will no doubt result in even larger populations as the birds try to find other places to gather. What will the USDA do then? Use poison or pesticides, thus endangering humans?

Please, leave the birds alone and let's all try to co-exist for a change.