Of the four common crow bird species in the Corvidae family noted in our country, the Indian House Crow is claimed tops the other three species in its growing population. Even without birdlife expert count data, casual sightings in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar confirm the species ever increasing abundance over its three colleagues:

The White Necked Raven {Corvus albicollis), the Pied Crow (Corvus albus) and the Cape Rock (Corvus capensis).

While all wildlife deserves protection probably as much as we human beings do if not less, this particular crow bird species "The Indian House Crow {Corvus splendens)" poses problems on the lives of other birds, scare and noisy discomfort in human settlements. The bird like its collegue species is omnivorous but very active scavenger endowed with rich appetite for eating, preys on other birds eggs laid on bare ground and or in nests on trees especially in centers, or locations where garbage disposal practices are weak.

Such as bus stands, open markets with fresh or dry perishable animal/fish and vegetable stocks, littered streets whether paved or tarmac, garbage dumps, beaches, back/court yards of homes healthy care centers surroundings etc. it's egg laying rate of up to 6 eggs each time it nests is slightly higher than that of its three collegues whose egg laying rate is between 2- 5. Incubation is 2-3 weeks more or less similar to that of its collegues. Better feeding and conducive climate allows it more breeding cycles each year. Presently its egg laying rate is about twice that of same bird species in its countries of origin.

Chances of its increasing population currently are greater, given that there are not efficient check strategies in place. This crow bird species is always on alert for its security. When for example it spots danger such as being chased off by man, most take refuge on electric/telegraph poles/wire lines, buildings roof tops etc to perch until all is safe and clear for its routing scavenging.

Furthermore, during day time when it is peak hours for bus commuter passengers/travellers, this bird species would be seen in big crowds noisy as ever sharing in close proximity to humans the bus station facility as if also waiting to board same in coming/outgoing buses! Scare to clients at open air restaurants as the crow species daringly strides to rob them part of their served meals unsuccessful or successful. Most clients do not always take this situation kindly.

Reliable records give historical information on this crow species that is native to India, Westwards to Southern Iran and Eastwards to Western China; that it was introduced to Zanzibar in the 1890's, later spread to Dar es Salaam, subsequently first sighted in 1974 in Mombasa and later in Nairobi and other coastal areas in Kenya, Lately, it has also been spotted in Mikumi area, Morogoro Region in Tanzania.

Most likely it could be spreading farther in land in the Eastern African countries.

Attempts to control its spread at least in Dar es Salaam through trapping by cage, wire netting, starving them by safe and efficient disposal of garbage from our settlements have not been successful for lack of active communities mobilization.

Perhaps it is now time to resume these efforts once again but more seriously including appointment of egg hunters or disposers from among the trained wildlife staff to locate the bird species' nests and destroy the eggs. Fortunately, the eggs look different in shades from those of other three species. Furthermore, food for the other three species in mainly insects and cause no problems to man.

The need for limiting the spread of the Indian House Crow as highlighted above is obvious otherwise there could come a time when we would lose other kinds of birds in our neighborhood such friendly types like, the peacock, doves the eagle (prey on snakes) etc from our skies, green parks etc through loss of respective eggs having been devoured by this crow species. Both garbage control and egg hunting measures however, ought to be carried out simultaneously long enough to realize negligible scare and negligible nuisance noise to communities; and negligible depopulation of other bird's families.

Let us therefore have a plan of action or progamme which will step by step and year after year help to overcome the Indian House Crow problems cited above in order to achieve these end benefits.