Photos and videos showed the crows swooping down and pecking at people’s heads around Block 110, Bishan Street 12, went viral recently. The National Parks Board (NPB) said it will conduct monthly community inspections and regularly remove bird nests to reduce the incstance of such attacks. Authorities are also reminding the public not to feed the birds and to dispose of food scraps properly, which will help slow the increase in bird numbers.
Dr Adrian Loo, group director of wildlife management at NParks, confirmed the incident when he responded to media inquiries. The authorities began to observe the crow’s nest at Block 110, Bishan Street 12, from February 7, 2023. Authorities are currently working with the Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council to trim trees, remove nests and set bird traps.
In addition, they are also cooperating with organizations such as town councils to inspect and regularly remove bird nests in the community every month to reduce the occurrence of such attacks. Authorities are reminding the public not to feed the birds and to dispose of food scraps properly, which will help slow the increase in bird numbers and improve aggregation.
Dr Loo said that the scientific name of this bird is Corvus splendens, also known as House Crows, but it is not a native species but an invasive species that poses a threat to local biodiversity. House crows are especially protective of their young, so when the young are in the nest or if they feel threatened, they will behave aggressively.
Authorities need to manage invasive birds through a comprehensive approach based on science, including population control strategies such as removing food sources, changing habitat, removing nests and trapping crows; activities, etc. to understand their population ecology.
Bishan residents have complained that there have been several crow attacks in HDB housing estates recently. A resident told media reporters on 15 Feb that for every three people passing by, one person is attacked by crows.
The National Parks Board personnel were on site today to catch the birds. The crows that are caught will be euthanised.
One resident who spoke to the the media said that he had wanted to alert the authorities about the crows earlier but was worried that they would “catch them and kill them.”
“That’s what I don’t want,” he added.
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