'Is Singapore so clean... and have so many crows?'

Visiting Singapore in the summer, many Vietnamese tourists are surprised to see flocks of crows cawing loudly throughout parks, bus stations, outdoor food markets and downtown streets.

In a country as famous for being clean, modern and disciplined as Singapore, the natural question that arises is: Why are there so many crows?

During their stay in Singapore in mid-July - the peak tourist season in Southeast Asia - many Vietnamese tourists shared a surprising common point: they encountered many crows everywhere, from HDB residential areas, parks, outdoor dining areas (hawker centers) to parking lots near MRT (subway).

Mr. Tran My (35 years old, Ho Chi Minh City) was surprised when crows cawed loudly in the heart of the island nation.

PHOTO: NVCC

"At first I thought I misheard the birds, but when I looked up I saw dozens of crows perched on the trees, cawing loudly as if they were in a conference. They were everywhere, wherever there was trash they would fly to," said Ms. Minh An (27 years old, Ho Chi Minh City), a first-time visitor to Singapore.

Many people were surprised: "I thought only India or the countryside had a lot of crows, but who would have thought that Singapore, a country famous for its tidiness and clean streets, would have flocks of crows flying all over the sky," Mr. Tran My (35 years old, Ho Chi Minh City) posted on social media.

Why do crows " settle" in Singapore?

According to urban ecology experts in Singapore, the most common crow species on the island nation today is the House Crow (Corvus splendens), which originated from South Asia, mainly from India and Sri Lanka and was introduced to Singapore in the 20th century through maritime trade activities.

With their excellent adaptability, intelligence, boldness and especially their "easy-going" diet, crows quickly multiplied. From a few dozen individuals, the number of crows in Singapore is now estimated to have exceeded hundreds of thousands, creating the most remarkable "urban bird population" in the region.

House crows usually have shiny black feathers, a grayish head, a pointed beak and a very loud cry. They often gather in large flocks, nesting on tall trees or rooftops, electric poles. What is special is that they love to eat garbage, leftover food and human waste. While famous as one of the cleanest cities in the world , that does not mean that Singapore does not have garbage, especially organic waste and leftover food.

Maxwell Food Centre - famous food market in Singapore

PHOTO: LE NAM

In HDB residential areas (public housing), traditional markets or hawker centers, spilled food, uncovered trash or forgotten lunch boxes are still "treasures" for crows. With good memory and keen observation, crows easily recognize where there is a lot of food and where there is little human intervention, and from there, they flock to take over.

In addition, the lack of natural predators such as eagles, owls or snakes in urban areas makes this bird feel secure in breeding. In addition, the year-round warm climate and dense greenery in Singapore provide an ideal environment for crows to nest and roost.

Authorities used... snipers to control crows

In fact, Singapore is not indifferent to the "crow-ization of the city". Since the 1990s, the government has carried out crow control campaigns, including destroying nests, restricting egg-laying areas, and even air-gun sniping in densely populated areas - a measure that has been highly controversial.

However, crow “management” still has to balance ecological efficiency with ethical factors. Many animal protection organizations oppose bird culling campaigns and urge governments to find more sustainable solutions, such as educating people not to litter, changing trash can lids so crows cannot open them, and managing food waste in residential areas.

Singapore residents are gradually getting used to the presence and sounds of crows.

PHOTO: LE NAM

Many Singaporeans have become accustomed to the presence of crows, even considering them "part of the city's soundscape". However, for foreign tourists, especially from Vietnam, where crows are rarely seen in urban areas, encountering flocks of crows in a city like Singapore is still a curious thing.

"Walking in the morning and hearing crows cawing loudly like a scene from a movie, I thought Halloween had come early. But when I asked the locals, everyone said: 'It's normal, there are a lot of crows here'," said Ms. Diem Tran (a tourist from Da Nang).

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/sao-singapore-sach-the-sao-nhieu-qua-vay-185250728125025605.htm