By Bob Boughner
A young peoples' group from a United Church in Chatham is planning to ask its church congregation and officials of the Kent Presbytery to call an immediate halt to the killing of crows in Chatham by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.
Rev. Andrew Jensen of Park Street United Church confirmed Wednesday that the eight to 12 teenagers who make up the group have scheduled a meeting at the church Sunday at 6 p.m.
"They are concerned and angry over the crow killing that is taking place in Chatham," Jensen said in an interview. "They are especially concerned over the large number of crows that are being wounded and left to die."
Jensen said the teenagers met recently to discuss their concerns and are now planning to appeal to church members and officials of the Kent Presbytery of the United Church to have some kind of action taken to bring it to a halt.
They are very concerned about the suffering that the wounded crows are likely experiencing," said Jensen. "They want something done about it but they are not sure how to go about it."
Jensen said the meeting will be open to the public.
Joanne Siddall of Chatham, a licenced wildlife rehabilitator, who has been nursing several injured crows back to health, has agreed to address the meeting. She plans to bring along one of her wounded crows.
Siddall said Wednesday the heaviest night of crow shooting by public works employees took place Tuesday night in Chatham.
"I could hear shooting from 6 p.m. until well after 10:30 p.m.," she said. "At times the gunfire sounded like the climax of a fireworks display. It was incredible."
Jensen said the young people are hoping that if they protest in an organized way "maybe someone will listen."
Richard Erickson of Fletcher, who has just launched his second crow shooting competition in Chatham-Kent, said Wednesday he may attend the meeting to tell his side of the crow story.
"I don't think these young people realize that crows are major disease carriers," said Erickson. "And perhaps they don't realize the problems the crows cause with their droppings. All they have to do is ask the principal of Ursuline College Chatham."
Erickson was referring to a story in Wednesday's Chatham Daily News quoting Mike Grant, principal of the 1,600-student UCC, as saying the school property has become a major overnight roosting area for thousands of crows.
Grant said school custodians are telling him the birds roost on the flat roof of the school during the night in order to soak up heat penetrating the building.
Grant said custodians have been picking up dead crows on the school grounds although he isn't aware of any shooting taking place by public works employees on the school property.
An official of the St. Clair District' Catholic School Board said no permission has been given to the municipality to shoot crows on the UCC grounds.
A Sunday night meeting planned by the young peoples' group of Park Street United Church to discuss the killing of crows in Chatham is not open to the general public, according to church pastor Rev. Andrew Jensen.
Jensen said Thursday that members of the church congregation are, however, invited to attend the 6 p.m. meeting. Guestspeaker will be Joanne Siddall, Chatham wildlife rehabilitator, who is tending to numerous wounded crows this month.
According to Jensen, the your peoples' group is "concerned and angry" over the killing and wounding of crows in Chatham and wants it stopped. He said they plan to ask for support for their stand from the church congregation an the Kent Presbytery of the United Church of Canada.