Traps were used several years ago by Rene Haller of the then Bamburi Portland Cement Company. It worked for a while, but then crows are smart and became wary and reluctant to take the bait put in the trap when they saw what it did to some of them!
I have used Diazinon at my place by putting a single drop using a dropper on a tiny chunk of meat. Once they have ingested the meat, they die in 10 to 15 minutes and away from where the crow swallowed the bait.
It is an expensive and a slow process.
Mo Ismail.
Yes, and before long the locals will be "farming" crows in their back yards, and harvesting the crow fledglings for the bounty!
Yes, traps are very useful - however if it is only a small number of birds, then really the very best option is to pay local boys Ksh50 per crow they bring you. Even pay them Ksh 100 if you are keen to really make sure they'll get them.
I've discussed this with KWS in the past who have concurred this is the best method, but you would need to get full clearance for doing it.
Guns will not work as the crows will learn the first time one of them is shot and will never allow you to get close again; traps are much better, but getting the last few birds is next to impossible. Pay a kijana some hard cash and he will make sure he gets his bird!!!
Colin
On 22/11/13 17:13, Fleur Ng'weno wrote:
Dear Mohamed and all
Titus Imboma of NMK is piloting the use of traps to catch crows in Voi.
Can KWS help Titus Imboma to set up some traps in Makindu also? More public-friendly than shotguns....
Best wishes to all, Fleur
On 11/22/13 10:39 AM, "Mohamed Ismail" <afriventures@usa.net> wrote:
Adam,
The KWS is based at Hunter's Lodge at Kiboko--ten miles from Makindu. Since the Kenya Govt., does not intend to allow the importation of Sterlicide, shotguns are the only alternative. If KWS will not do it, individuals with shotguns must be given permission to get rid of these pests.
Mohamed Ismail.
The first panacea for a mismanaged nation is inflation of the currency; the second is war. Both bring a temporary prosperity; both bring a permanent ruin. But both are the refuge of political and economic opportunists.
~Ernest Hemingway.
------ Original Message ------
Received: Fri, 22 Nov 2013 12:48:03 PM EAT
From: Adam Scott Kennedy <adamscottkennedy@gmail.com>
To: kenyabirdsnet <kenyabirdsnet@yahoogroups.com>, Titus Imboma <timboma@yahoo.com>
Subject: [KENYABIRDSNET] House Crows have reach Makindu
Hi All,
I just received a call from Brian Finch who is on tour with clients.
He has just seen House Crows at the Sikh Temple in Makindu. This could be their penultimate bastion before reaching Nairobi so if anyone (especially the staff at the Museum) has the means to 'control' these birds, then please do now quickly.
Cheers for now
Adam