Forum: Crow-shooting operations could also improve koel situation
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I refer to the report that the National Parks Board will resume crow-shooting operations as part of a wider package of measures to reduce the house crow population (“ Singapore to resume crow shooting operations from second half of March
As a wildlife and horticulture enthusiast, I am heartened by the move. House crows are an introduced invasive species in Singapore, and many residents are familiar with the everyday downsides: aggressive swoops near nesting areas, opportunistic scavenging around food sources, and the mess left behind.
But what is less discussed is the knock-on impact on another “urban” bird that can present an even bigger quality-of-life problem: the Asian koel, which lays its eggs predominantly in house crow nests. The koel’s loud, repetitive calls from dawn can inconvenience residents and can sometimes be heard till night.
Where I live in Woodlands Avenue 6, a single calling male can begin well before sunrise, waking entire blocks. For shift workers, and for students during exam periods, repeated early-morning disturbance is more than a nuisance – it also erodes sleep and affects mood and performance.
If crow reduction is pursued carefully and safely, it may bring benefits beyond fewer crow attacks – by reducing the availability of host nests that koels depend on.
I hope the authorities can track and publish trends in both crow-related feedback and koel-related noise complaints before and after the March operations, so residents can see whether this “chicken-and-egg” dynamic plays out on the ground.
Lim Peicong
