RE: Re: [KENYABIRDSNET] House Crows have reach Makindu

If someone started paying me to kill birds, don't you think that I might well gain the impression that this is an acceptable thing to do? And isn't there a risk that my limited ID skills might mean that I kill anything that looks remotely similar? Or if I'm bored or waiting for a House Crow to appear, I may well feel the need to practice my hunting skills at any other species that I encounter.

I might even try to cook up one or two of my kills and perhaps attempt to sell one or two to other villagers? And if you're willing to pay Ksh 100 for a Crow, I may well try it on by bringing you a few bigger or more brightly coloured species in the hope that you'll pay more for these. No doubt you wouldn't but I might have killed a dozen or so other species before I the message fully sinks in. And if my mate managed to get a Crow, I might well feel the need to kill something bigger or brighter, just to avoid being shown up by him.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not condemning the principle of controlling this invasive species but merely counselling caution against using any possible method of eradication, regardless of the risk of collateral impacts or sending potentially confusing messages to the non-conservation community.

---In kenyabirdsnet@yahoogroups.com, <colin.jackson@...> wrote:

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@...> 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@...>
To: kenyabirdsnet <kenyabirdsnet@yahoogroups.com>, Titus Imboma <timboma@...>
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