CLARK FREEPORT – The life of a Brahminy Kite hawk was saved from large, attacking crows here at about 10 a.m. yesterday and brought to a private ranch for animals for treatment and recovery.
Vivencio David Jr, senior environment officer for parks and ecosystem of the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) here, said the young hawk, which measured about one and a half feet long from tail to beak, suffered from plucked feathers in both its wings but was otherwise in good health. It had a white head and brown body.
Street sweepers initially spotted the hawk near the presidential Bahay na Puti, dubbed as the Malacanang of the north during the Arroyo administration, as about four big, jet-black crows attacked it on the ground.
The population of crows, which vanished during the eruption of the nearby Mt. Pinatubo in 1991, has again surged here anew, and at times noted to fly in huge groups within this Freeport.
In residential areas, the all-black crows, some of them noted to be more than a foot long, have been noted to carry off stray cats into the air and drop them after lifting them a few feet above ground.
David said the street sweepers shooed off the crows which literally ganged up on the hawk which was already unable to fly after some of its wing feathers were plucked out by its attackers.
He said he commended the sweepers for saving the bird and turning it over to his office.
“The hawk was already disabled but it was putting up a brave fight against the attacking crows, so we decided to name it Tapang. I think it was a case of turf war, as crows are known to be territorial,” David said.
He said Tapang was turned over to the management of Paradise Farm, a private tourism firm which also keeps animals located at Monicayao settlement for Aeta tribal folk within the Sacobia reservation of this Freeport.
David noted that crows, known as scavengers, have apparently made this Freeport their territory amid the availability of scrap food from picnickers in parks, as well as other foods from garbage cans of residents. The birds have been noted to spill garbage containers outwide households here.
Crows are believed to have the capability to distinguish one individual from another and can bear grudge when they are wronged.
Vivencio David Jr, senior environment officer for parks and ecosystem of the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) here, said the young hawk, which measured about one and a half feet long from tail to beak, suffered from plucked feathers in both its wings but was otherwise in good health. It had a white head and brown body.
Street sweepers initially spotted the hawk near the presidential Bahay na Puti, dubbed as the Malacanang of the north during the Arroyo administration, as about four big, jet-black crows attacked it on the ground.
The population of crows, which vanished during the eruption of the nearby Mt. Pinatubo in 1991, has again surged here anew, and at times noted to fly in huge groups within this Freeport.
In residential areas, the all-black crows, some of them noted to be more than a foot long, have been noted to carry off stray cats into the air and drop them after lifting them a few feet above ground.
David said the street sweepers shooed off the crows which literally ganged up on the hawk which was already unable to fly after some of its wing feathers were plucked out by its attackers.
He said he commended the sweepers for saving the bird and turning it over to his office.
“The hawk was already disabled but it was putting up a brave fight against the attacking crows, so we decided to name it Tapang. I think it was a case of turf war, as crows are known to be territorial,” David said.
He said Tapang was turned over to the management of Paradise Farm, a private tourism firm which also keeps animals located at Monicayao settlement for Aeta tribal folk within the Sacobia reservation of this Freeport.
David noted that crows, known as scavengers, have apparently made this Freeport their territory amid the availability of scrap food from picnickers in parks, as well as other foods from garbage cans of residents. The birds have been noted to spill garbage containers outwide households here.
Crows are believed to have the capability to distinguish one individual from another and can bear grudge when they are wronged.
