READERS RESPOND -- Will the crows continue to caw?

We have a really bad problem with crows and the only way to get rid of

the crows is to shoot them. They’re very intelligent animals, smart as

dogs, and if you shoot one the others communicate to the group that this

person is a crow killer and they won’t come back to the house --

especially if one has died on your roof or something.

But I guess you have to decide on what’s more important -- the crow,

or yourself and your peace of mind? Crows are not native to the area and

they’re sort of overtaking the Orange County coastal area and it’s quite

unnatural. We have no problem killing crows and until we can find another

solution, that’s how we’re gonna get rid of them.

LOREN BLACKWOOD

Newport Beach

I can’t believe that the immediate response is to run out and shoot

those birds. Anyone who thinks that shooting one bird makes no difference

because they serve no purpose really has very little understanding of the

balance of nature.

Crows are intelligent; they’re smart enough to move into areas with

lots of food. They don’t deserve to be shot and killed just because

they’re making a little bit of noise.

Helicopters make noise, cars make noise, people make noise. You’re not

allowed to shoot them without having some other input from members of the

Audubon Society or other groups before they run out and shoot the birds.

Please don’t shoot any more birds. And poisoning kills all kinds of

species besides the one you’re aiming at. Consider other alternatives.

SHARON BOUDREAU

Costa Mesa

I live right by Tustin Avenue and 20th Street, and although I really

love nature and animals, the crows really are a nuisance. They don’t have

a natural predator so they just keep multiplying, and they’re often in

the trees above us making horrible noises.

Also, they’re often on my front lawn and my children are afraid to go

out and play because they’re so large. And they aren’t easy to scare

away, so I think the problem does need to be addressed in our

neighborhood. There’s an overabundance of crows here and somebody should

look into that.

ELIZABETH BARNES

Costa Mesa

Please do what you can to get rid of them. We live here and we go out

and we find these little baby birds laying in our backyards. Not only

that, the crows are diseased and they make a big mess, we have to clean

up after them. All the little birds that we used to have come around are

gone because the crows kill them.

I’m for [shooting the crows] and I’ll even buy whatever it takes to

get rid of them and pay for their burial.

MARJORIE BELL

Costa Mesa

I’m in support of what Costa Mesa police have done to take care of the

situation. I think we have a similar situation in Newport and hope that

Newport will take care of it as well.

FRITZ HOWSER

Newport Beach

I’m delighted to see that they’re getting rid of the crows. We used to

have robins and a lot of little birds in our yards. We found that [the

crows] disturb all the nests, they eat the little eggs of the birds and

they chase all the good birds away.

All we have are these great big giants walking around, so anything

they can do to get rid of them would be very much appreciated.

CAROL FRANK

Newport Beach