Dr. Jailaxmi R Vinayak
~ Where have all the crows gone? ~ 
Dr. Jailaxmi R Vinayak
Crows that were once upon a time in abundance and in persistent companionship of human beings are steadily diminishing like sparrows, parakeets, tigers and lions. Basically, it is because of the urbanisation and felling of trees. The dwindling green spots in the city life has taken a toll on common birds. In addition to this global warming, hazardous climatic changes, noise pollution, emission of harmful gases and insecticides are equally responsible. The crows need trees for nesting and neighborhood areas for foraging.
The grey necked crow also known as Ceylon or Colombo crow is of Asian origin. Their age limit is twenty or thirty years. They eat all that is edible and feed on refuge around human habitation, small reptiles, insects, small invertebrates, eggs, nestlings, plants, grain, fruit etc. The main reason why our garden is being harmfully raided by insects is mainly because there are no crows to thrive on them. Crows are also an indication of poor sanitary conditions. It was also considered inauspicious to be touched by crows.
Since five to six years crows were considered to be a menace. We were getting up with ‘caw caw’ sound. Some very famous songs have been composed on them like ‘jhooth bole kouva kaate’, and ‘bhor hote kaga pukare more ram’, just reinforcing that crows were an important part and parcel of our lives. Of course, in places like Worli of Mumbai, which is surrounded by densely foliaged trees, crows are daring to come in the flats of high-rise buildings and creating a menace.
On occasions of Shradh, a ceremony observed after the demise of ancestors, crows were fed to give peace to the departed Soul.
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© Dr. Jailaxmi R Vinayak
≈ Editor – Shri Hemant Bawankar/Editor (English) – Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi, NM ≈
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