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Mail service stopped due to crow attacks
Bernice Sokol, with neighbour Len Chapko, describes the flight of a crow that swooped down on her and pulled at her hair while she was in her yard in the 400 block of Ralph Avenue West. Chapko was trying to weed his garden when the crows started dive-bombing him. (WAYNE GLOWACKI/ WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store
A crow in the area of Ralph Avenue West in Transcona. (WAYNE GLOWACKI/ WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store
A crow and blue jay square off . (WAYNE GLOWACKI/ WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store
Len Chapko, carrying an umbrella, says he wears a hat while working outdoors at his home in the 400 block of Ralph Avenue West in Transcona. (WAYNE GLOWACKI/ WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store
There’s a murder on Ralph Avenue — and it’s causing havoc for the neighbours.
A murder of crows, in this case, two adults and three juveniles, are attacking people on the street and have proved so ferocious that Canada Post has suspended mail delivery, citing unsafe access.
Len Chapko, who lives next door to the tree which hosts the crows’ nest, said the attacks began almost two weeks ago. He was trying to weed his garden and the crows were dive-bombing him so strenuously, he had to give up and go inside.
"They’ve been very aggressive," said Chapko. "The seniors, some of them, don’t want to go outside."
Chapko recalls yelling a warning to the area’s postal carrier a few days ago when a crow was dive-bombing him from behind. The postal carrier came back later with another worker who was checking out his complaint. The second worker carried a big branch to ward off attacks.
"I said, ‘That won’t work. You just can’t turn your back on them’," said Chapko.
Crows won’t approach a predator from the front. Experts suggest carrying an umbrella or wearing a hat with big eyes painted on the back.
One of Chapko’s neighbours carries her lame pet dog around, and a crow attacked them and managed to actually ruffle her hair. Chapko wonders if the bird was after the dog.
Manitoba Conservation officials have said crows attack once their babies are large enough to leave the nest, then stop once the babies are able to fly, a period that can last between a day and a week.
In fact, Chapko said the babies have been flying for several days now, and the adult attacks are continuing, with one of the babies joining in. These crows seem particularly motivated. Chapko said they don’t like a white jeep which drives down Ralph Avenue. One of the birds chases it.
Chapko and his wife will not be deterred from planting their flowers, something they’ve had to put off, he said. Tomorrow, he intends to stand guard against airborne attacks while she plants the flowers.
History
Updated on Friday, June 22, 2012 at 9:15 AM CDT: Corrects typo.
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