Charlottetown shuts down crow wailers

Charlottetown city council has voted to silence the sound wailers used to drive crows from Victoria Park until at least next fall.

For years, about 10,000 noisy and messy crows have made the neighbourhoods around Victoria Park their seasonal roosting site. Last November the city bought two Phoenix Wailers, which are designed to scare the crows. They emit sounds that range from birds of prey calls to gun shots.

Several residents volunteered to set up the wailers and monitor the success. The devices drove off the crows, but councillors were concerned the birds did not seem to go far. Before long, peoplein other parts of the citycomplained the crows hadmoved to their neighbourhood.

Council has decided the problem needs a city-wide solution. Mostbirds are expected to be out of the city in the spring, and city officials will review possible solutions over the next few months.