12 votes

Crow-plagued California city turns to lasers and boomboxes to clear the air

8 comments

  1. archevel
    Link
    Meanwhile in Sweden... I think this story was linked elsewhere, but it is fascinating to contrast with this one. In one place nature is a problem in the other nature is used as an asset.

    Meanwhile in Sweden... I think this story was linked elsewhere, but it is fascinating to contrast with this one. In one place nature is a problem in the other nature is used as an asset.

    6 votes
  2. [3]
    HotPants
    Link
    Sounds like Palo Alto partially moved their problem to Sunnyvale?

    Sunnyvale’s mayor, Larry Klein, was inspired to deploy lasers and speakers by neighboring Palo Alto, where lasers had been used, with some success, to disperse the crows congregating there.

    Even if Sunnyvale manages to drive its flock away from downtown temporarily, they’re likely to return unless they find another habitat where they can comfortably and safely roost

    Sounds like Palo Alto partially moved their problem to Sunnyvale?

    5 votes
    1. [2]
      MimicSquid
      Link Parent
      And then by making it unpleasant to be here, we'll force the homeless cough cough I mean the crows to settle somewhere else! Hmmm...

      And then by making it unpleasant to be here, we'll force the homeless cough cough I mean the crows to settle somewhere else!

      Even if Sunnyvale manages to drive its flock away from downtown temporarily, they’re likely to return unless they find another habitat where they can comfortably and safely roost. “For a long-term solution, cities need to redirect funding towards research that would help us figure out how we can create green spaces designed to house these roosts,” Swift said.

      Hmmm...

      4 votes
      1. teaearlgraycold
        Link Parent
        The birds are just looking for handouts!

        The birds are just looking for handouts!

        2 votes
  3. teaearlgraycold
    Link
    Interesting. I live in the area and just heard an old timer complaining about the crows a few weeks ago. I hadn't noticed them but maybe where I'm from there are a similar amount of crows.

    Interesting. I live in the area and just heard an old timer complaining about the crows a few weeks ago. I hadn't noticed them but maybe where I'm from there are a similar amount of crows.

    3 votes
  4. [3]
    space_cowboy
    Link
    Crows are cool. Why would people object to them?

    Crows are cool. Why would people object to them?

    1 vote
    1. [2]
      MimicSquid
      Link Parent
      As someone who loves crows: In large flocks they're noisy, they poop on whatever is below them, they're clever scavengers that'll eat anything, and they're large enough to be a little intimidating...

      As someone who loves crows: In large flocks they're noisy, they poop on whatever is below them, they're clever scavengers that'll eat anything, and they're large enough to be a little intimidating especially in larger groups.

      9 votes
      1. cfabbro
        Link Parent
        If you think crows are intimidating, you should see northern ravens! The first time I saw a flock of them (eating a carcass on the side of the road while driving through the Rockies of BC) it blew...

        If you think crows are intimidating, you should see northern ravens! The first time I saw a flock of them (eating a carcass on the side of the road while driving through the Rockies of BC) it blew my mind. They were easily twice the size of the largest crows I have ever seen.

        1 vote