Potential health risks from what has now become the single largest crow roost in Canada is generating concern for the principal of one of Chatham-Kent's largest secondary schools.
Mike Grant, principal of the 1,600 student Ursuline College Chatham on Grand Avenue West, said Tuesday the school property has become a major overnight roosting area for thousands of crows.
"There have been mornings when sidewalks around the school have been so slippery with crow droppings that it has been unsafe to walk on them," he said. "We had similar problems a few years ago but then the crows left the area. Now they are back again in even larger numbers."
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. "I'm told the roof is literally a sea of crows in the early morning hours," said the principal. "In fact, the custodians tell me it is an eerie sight to see."
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.
"It's my understanding that no shooting is to take place in residential areas of the city," he said. "But I wouldn't have any objection to some shooting on school property by proper authorities long after school hours.
"After all, I'm more concerned about the crow droppings and their possible ill affects on my students and staff. I'm not opposed to trying to deal with the problem although I'm not sure if shooting is the answer"
Grant said, however, he doubts if the Ursuline Sisters, who live next door to UCC at Ursuline Convent, would appreciate shooting of crows taking place in the area.
"We are not aware of any shooting and we wouldn't want it to take place here," said Mother Superior Mary Waters "None of the 72 Ursuline Sisters that live have reported any live shooting, although we have seen the flash of some flares being shot off in the area.
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.
Fred Johnson of Chatham, a fish and wildlife technical specialist with the Ministry of Natural Resources, confirmed Tuesday that with an estimated population of 160,000 crows, the roost in Chatham today is by far the largest in Canada.He said the number was arrived at in a recent annual crow count involving bird watchers and min-istry personnel.
"It appears word is being spread in the crow world that Chatham is the place to be," said Johnson. "And crows are following other crows to Chatham."
He said that while the roost is not the largest reported in North America, it does rank high on the list.
Johnson said Chatham's crow population has increased dramatically since 1998 when it was estimated in the range of 100,000 birds. The estimate in 1997 was 97,000 crows.
"Getting rid of them does present a challenge," he said. "I would suggest the municipality begin its efforts earlier this year - possibly as early as September - to drive them out of the city."
Johnson said he isn't personally aware of any health problems that a large crow population might create for the public.
He said that depending on weather conditions, crows might begin moving out of the Chatham area as early as February. When milder weather arrives, he said, crows begin to move further afield.
Johnson said the shooting of crows in Chatham with live ammunition is occurring under strict guidelines established for the municipality.
Leo Denys, general manager of public works for Chatham-Kent, confirmed Monday that the war against the growing crow population has escalated to its highest level with live ammunition being used on several occasions over the past few weeks.
Some crow carcasses have been sent off to the University of Guelph to be tested for diseases.
According to Ron Carnahari, manager of health protection programs for Health and Social Services in Chatham-Kent, there are no known health hazards or communicable diseases that are related to crows.
"But there is no question they are a nuisance," he said.
Carnahan did say, however that he would have his staff look into recent reports from New York State concerning diseases carried by birds.
copyright Chatham Daily News
"There is no earthly beast or winged bird that is not a people like mankind, and they shall return to the Lord"
....Mohammed