As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Sunday 30 November 2014

Overrun with crows, desperate Yakima Co. town tries 'bird bombs'

By Jackie DelPilar, KIMA-TV News Published: Nov 28, 2014 at 11:07 AM PST

SUNNYSIDE, Wash. - Crows are everywhere in the Yakima County town of Sunnyside.

And now Sunnyside has had enough.

"They create a mess. Obviously, it's a problem for the community," says Officer Samuel Ramos.

City leaders have looked at different ways to get rid of the thousands of crows that nest there and plaster city sidewalks with their messy droppings.

The problem has been growing over the past four years, and now city officials say it's time for them to go. 

In the past, officers used shotguns to kill the pesky birds. They're trying a different method for the first time - nonlethal "bird bomb" flare guns.

"It's more humane to push them away than to obviously kill them," says Ramos.

During the day, the birds feast on cow feed at the local farms. At night, they find dense trees to nest in.

"Our biggest areas right now are in the downtown area near the banks and close to city hall," Ramos said.

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