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Straits Times
3 days ago
- General
- Straits Times
NParks hangs black plastic bird upside-down from tree outside Katong V mall to disperse crows
Zachary Lim The Straits Times May 31, 2025 Hanging upside-down from a tree branch, the full-feathered "crow" was limp, its eyes devoid of any signs of life. The dead bird, however, is not real, but just a plastic effigy. It is part of an ongoing trial by the National Parks Board (NParks) to prevent house crows (Corvus splendens), considered an invasive species here, from congregating in large groups. Such effigies have been tested overseas in places such as the US with some success, and NParks is testing them out here for the first time as a tool to disperse these birds. PHOTO: NATIONAL PARKS BOARD In response to queries from The Straits Times, Mr How Choon Beng, NParks' group director of wildlife management, said: "The effigies are placed at roost sites and positioned to resemble dead crows. The aim is to create a perception of danger and encourage the roosting crows to disperse to other locations." The realistic decoys were first deployed in Singapore in late 2023, with each effigy deployed at a site for about two weeks on average, NParks said. Since 2023, a total of 15 effigies have been put up across eight locations that are heavily populated with crows, or experience higher volumes of disturbances by crows. NParks said that it received an average of nearly 7,000 cases of crow-related feedback annually from 2023 to 2024, relating to issues such as noise, sightings, attacks, feeding and soiling. The board did not reveal the exact locations of the set-ups, but The Straits Times had observed one effigy on a tree outside Katong V mall in April. "This is a plastic crow. Please do not be alarmed," read a sign next to the tree where the effigy had been deployed. That effigy was taken down on April 24. As data collection is still ongoing, NParks said it was unable to provide further details. Trials of these crow effigies come after news of these birds flying at and pecking passers-by. Between February and March 2023, there were reports of crow attacks in Bishan and Serangoon, with some 10 passers-by getting hit or having crows swoop right by them in a 20-minute span near Block 110 Bishan Street 12. Another crow attack in Tampines in July 2024 led to the removal of 77 crow nests from a stretch of trees in Tampines. There were also cases of crows attacking people outside Orchard Central mall in October 2024. Two birds attacked about 10 individuals in the span of an hour, ST observed, with one victim sustaining a bleeding earlobe. A 2008 scientific paper by the National Wildlife Research Centre of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services had cited an earlier paper that suggested that dead crows, when hung on fences or from trees near fields, "can be effective for months". That study had also suggested that "crows readily associate death and danger with places where their brethren have died". The USDA researchers then sought to test out their hypothesis that effigies could be an effective tool in dispersing crows. Each effigy was suspended upside down from a prominent branch near the top of a centrally located roost tree. Ahead of the winters of 2005 and 2006, the researchers installed effigies of dead crows in wooded areas of Lancaster in Pennsylvania, US, where up to 40,000 crows would roost together. The first effigies were put up in November 2005, and by January the following year, the crows had split into smaller roosting aggregations. Prior to the return of winter in October 2006, the researchers installed the effigies again, and observed that the area was used only sparingly by crows throughout the second winter. The researchers concluded that this tactic was effective in dispersing large numbers of crows at large roost sites away from the effigies. However, they also noted that crows are observant and wary of changes in their environment. Some crows occasionally returned to roost sites at night when the effigies were not as visible. House crows are common residents in cities and towns, and thrive in urban environments. In Singapore, these black birds can often be found at food centres and rubbish bins scavenging for leftover food. Their cawing and droppings can bring about inconvenience and unsanitary conditions when they gather and roost, especially near residential areas. During the fledgling season between May and June, adult house crows get extra protective and may attack humans who come close to their young. The fledgling season is the period when young birds develop their ability to fly. Nature Society Singapore's bird group told ST previously that house crows pose a threat to local biodiversity as they are known to prey on the Malaysian plover, a critically endangered bird native to the Republic. Research and conservation group Bird Society Singapore's vice-president Movin Nyanasengeran noted that the practice of deploying crow effigies is common enough that one can buy such decoys easily online. "It will probably be effective, at least initially. Crows are, however, very intelligent, so it's tough to say if it will remain effective over time... but it is definitely preferable over shooting or poisoning the birds, and is unlikely to lead to any detrimental impacts on their welfare," added the PhD student, who studies bird species distributions at NUS. He added that it was difficult to predict when the crows would eventually learn that the decoys are actually harmless and do not indicate danger, before returning to roost. The crow effigies add to a suite of measures already being implemented to manage crow populations in Singapore. These include removing nests and sources of food, modifying their habitats to make them less conducive for roosting, and trapping the birds. "NParks adopts a holistic and science-based approach to managing pest bird species... (and) conducts studies to understand the ecology of the birds, such as their roosting patterns and movements," said NParks' Mr How. Those who wish to provide feedback on crows in their neighbourhoods can contact NParks' Animal and Veterinary Service on 1800-476-1600 or submit an online feedback form. Click here to contribute a story or submit it to our WhatsApp Get more of Stomp's latest updates by following us on:
New Paper
3 days ago
- General
- New Paper
NParks trials use of dead bird effigies to prevent crows from congregating
Hanging upside-down from a tree branch, the full-feathered "crow" was limp, its eyes devoid of any signs of life. The dead bird, however, is not real, but just a plastic effigy. It is part of an ongoing trial by the National Parks Board (NParks) to prevent house crows (Corvus splendens), considered an invasive species here, from congregating in large groups. Such effigies have been tested overseas in places such as the US with some success, and NParks is testing them out here for the first time as a tool to disperse these birds. In response to queries from The Straits Times, Mr How Choon Beng, NParks' group director of wildlife management, said: "The effigies are placed at roost sites and positioned to resemble dead crows. The aim is to create a perception of danger and encourage the roosting crows to disperse to other locations." The realistic decoys were first deployed in Singapore in late 2023, with each effigy deployed at a site for about two weeks on average, NParks said. Since 2023, a total of 15 effigies have been put up across eight locations that are heavily populated with crows, or experience higher volumes of disturbances by crows. NParks said that it received an average of nearly 7,000 cases of crow-related feedback annually from 2023 to 2024, relating to issues such as noise, sightings, attacks, feeding and soiling. The board did not reveal the exact locations of the set-ups, but The Straits Times had observed one effigy on a tree outside Katong V mall in April. "This is a plastic crow. Please do not be alarmed," read a sign next to the tree where the effigy had been deployed. That effigy was taken down on April 24. As data collection is still ongoing, NParks said it was unable to provide further details. Trials of these crow effigies come after news of these birds flying at and pecking passers-by. Between February and March 2023, there were reports of crow attacks in Bishan and Serangoon, with some 10 passers-by getting hit or having crows swoop right by them in a 20-minute span near Block 110 Bishan Street 12. Another crow attack in Tampines in July 2024 led to the removal of 77 crow nests from a stretch of trees in Tampines. There were also cases of crows attacking people outside Orchard Central mall in October 2024. Two birds attacked about 10 individuals in the span of an hour, ST observed, with one victim sustaining a bleeding earlobe. A 2008 scientific paper by the National Wildlife Research Centre of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services had cited an earlier paper that suggested that dead crows, when hung on fences or from trees near fields, "can be effective for months". That study had also suggested that "crows readily associate death and danger with places where their brethren have died". The USDA researchers then sought to test out their hypothesis that effigies could be an effective tool in dispersing crows. Each effigy was suspended upside down from a prominent branch near the top of a centrally located roost tree. Ahead of the winters of 2005 and 2006, the researchers installed effigies of dead crows in wooded areas of Lancaster in Pennsylvania, the US, where up to 40,000 crows would roost together. The first effigies were put up in November 2005, and by January the following year, the crows had split into smaller roosting aggregations. Prior to the return of winter in October 2006, the researchers installed the effigies again, and observed that the area was used only sparingly by crows throughout the second winter. The researchers concluded that this tactic was effective in dispersing large numbers of crows at large roost sites away from the effigies. However, they also noted that crows are observant and wary of changes in their environment. Some crows occasionally returned to roost sites at night when the effigies were not as visible. House crows are common residents in cities and towns, and thrive in urban environments. In Singapore, these black birds can often be found at food centres and rubbish bins scavenging for leftover food. Their cawing and droppings can bring about inconvenience and unsanitary conditions when they gather and roost, especially near residential areas. During the fledgling season between May and June, adult house crows get extra protective and may attack humans who come close to their young. The fledgling season is the period when young birds develop their ability to fly. Nature Society Singapore's bird group told ST previously that house crows pose a threat to local biodiversity as they are known to prey on the Malaysian plover, a critically endangered bird native to the Republic. Research and conservation group Bird Society Singapore's vice-president Movin Nyanasengeran noted that the practice of deploying crow effigies is common enough that one can buy such decoys easily online. "It will probably be effective, at least initially. Crows are, however, very intelligent, so it's tough to say if it will remain effective over time... but it is definitely preferable over shooting or poisoning the birds, and is unlikely to lead to any detrimental impacts on their welfare," added the PhD student, who studies bird species distributions at NUS. He added that it was difficult to predict when the crows would eventually learn that the decoys are actually harmless and do not indicate danger, before returning to roost. The crow effigies add to a suite of measures already being implemented to manage crow populations in Singapore. These include removing nests and sources of food, modifying their habitats to make them less conducive for roosting, and trapping the birds. "NParks adopts a holistic and science-based approach to managing pest bird species... (and) conducts studies to understand the ecology of the birds, such as their roosting patterns and movements," said NParks' Mr How. Those who wish to provide feedback on crows in their neighbourhoods can contact NParks' Animal and Veterinary Service on 1800-476-1600 or submit an online feedback form at How to control crow populations
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Bengaluru asks: Where have all the crows gone?
Bengaluru: Not too long ago, the cawing of crows was an inescapable part of mornings in the city. You'd hear them from rooftops, wires, trees, and market corners. Today, silence has taken their place. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The change hasn't been sudden, but it has become impossible to ignore. Birdwatchers and experts have noted a steady decline in sightings of both the common house crow (Corvus splendens), a regular fixture in urban India, and the jungle crow (Corvus macrorhynchos), its larger and more robust cousin. Barring a few parks or near meat markets, crows have gone missing from residential neighbourhoods. People feel the absence when they wait for the birds to make an appearance during 'pinda dana', an offering to propitiate spirits of ancestors. Ulhas Anand, naturalist and vice-president at Tyfone told TOI, "This has been happening over the last decade. It really became noticeable after 2011. And it's not just about the crows; this is a warning sign for our city's entire ecological fabric." So why is this happening? The answer, ironically, lies in what the city considers progress. As Bengaluru improved its waste management systems, streetside garbage, a primary food source for crows, began to disappear. Krishna MB, ecologist and ornithologist, explained, "The way we dispose of food has changed. BBMP has removed bins from street corners, and that has had a massive impact." Its consequences But should we be worried? Crows feed on a wide range of leftovers: Rice, meat scraps, rats, carrion, and even small birds. In that sense, they have served as unofficial waste processors in the city. Their absence could lead to an increase in unmanaged waste and a rise in secondary pests. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now More importantly, their disappearance signals deeper ecological problems, loss of tree cover, collapse of food chains, and disruption of natural cycles, all of which affect not just birds, but the health and liveability of the city itself. Their absence has implications beyond a quiet skyline. Urbanisation has taken a toll on nesting habitats. Old trees that once provided space for crows and other hole-nesting birds such as barbets and parakeets are being cut down to make way for apartment blocks. In fact, every time it rains heavily in Bengaluru, 25-30 trees get uprooted. "Every tree lost is a pointer to numerous nests destroyed, badly affecting the crow population," another bird enthusiast said. This apart, pesticides have wiped out insect populations. And constant city lights interfere with natural rhythms and disrupt photoperiodism (the phenomenon where organisms respond to the relative lengths of day and night) in birds, Krishna added. No one is counting No formal data tracks the decline of these birds. On citizen-science platform eBird, data for May 2025 shows 91,520 jungle crows and 46,999 house crows in Bengaluru. But experts caution that these numbers can be misleading. "This doesn't reflect the actual density or distribution," said Krishna MB. "It tells us how many were recorded, not how many are left." Without a city-wide or national census on common birds such as crows, it's difficult to assess how deep the decline really is. Why koels are missing too Crows aren't disappearing in isolation. Other birds are vanishing with them, and some are vanishing because of them. Koels lay eggs in crow nests and rely on crow parents to raise their chicks. With fewer crows around and not many safe nesting trees, koels are laying fewer eggs. Rising construction noise and shrinking green spaces further prevent birds from breeding. This loss isn't about one species, but an interconnected system beginning to break apart. K Sankara Rao, from the Centre for Ecological Sciences, said unless the environment supports safe nesting and mating, birds simply move away, or stop reproducing. CHAIN OF DISAPPEARANCES Birds that were commonly seen in the city, but are now rarely spotted: * House sparrow * Common myna * Dove * Red-vented bulbul — Madhuja Chakraborty
