Conservationists have raised concern after invasive Indian house crows, a species long associated with Kenya’s coast, were confirmed in Nairobi for the first time, prompting plans for an early eradication campaign.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Researchers at the National Museums of Kenya said the sighting confirmed fears that the invasive species had reached the capital after gradually spreading inland from the coast.

They are preparing a controlled culling programme using methods already deployed on the coast, where more than 140,000 house crows were eliminated during the first four months of this year as part of an ongoing control campaign.

“The only method that is at our disposal is to use a particular chemical that targets them, and this has to be done in a very controlled way with experts at the helm. The ‘Crows No More’ programme has been tremendously successful, and that is what we are going to learn from. We are going to coordinate with the team at the coast and replicate that here,” said research scientist John Musina.

📌 What You Need to Know

The birds were recently spotted around the Nairobi City Stadium and Burma Market area after a resident photographed them before chasing them away, with traders in the area saying they had been seeing the birds flying and perching nearby.

According to Musina, the birds are believed to have followed transport corridors into the city such as Mombasa Road and the Standard Gauge Railway, making it easier for them to expand beyond their traditional range.

Researchers warned that the birds threaten native wildlife by raiding nests for eggs and chicks, competing with indigenous bird species for food and habitat, and thriving around garbage disposal sites.

They cautioned that Nairobi’s abundant organic waste could allow the crow population to multiply rapidly if breeding begins before control measures are implemented.

“One of the things that makes their population explode is the availability of supplemental food sources, like what we have at the dump sites. So, if we don’t act quickly and they start breeding, then the population can explode because they will not be deprived of food sources in a city like this, especially when we have areas where garbage, organic waste, is easy to access,” Musina told NTV on Wednesday.

Wildlife experts also warned that a growing population near Nairobi National Park could affect local birdlife, while an increase in numbers around Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and Wilson Airport could heighten the risk of bird strikes involving aircraft .

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke