Budapest bird attacks: downtown square closed to the public
The local government of the 9th district in Budapest had to close Ferenc Square to the public due to the aggressive and violent attacks of the hooded crows nesting nearby.
Budapest bird attacks
According to Telex, hooded crows (or hoodies in Scotland and Northern Ireland, Corvus cornix) conquered a downtown square in Budapest. Due to their multiple aggressive attacks, authorities closed the place to the public.
Dorottya Czuk, the press chief of the local government, said removing the bird nests is impossible because they are located very high and the parents may not find them, which would mean the end of the chicks inside the eggs. She added that the costs of removing the nests would be high due to the precise work and the equipment needed, so they decided to close the square instead.
Chicks learning to fly
The district’s leadership said crow attacks are typical only for a short spring period when the chicks start to fly away. Before that, they have to learn how to fly, so they remain close to the nest for one or two weeks. During that time, the parents protect them and become aggressive, attacking even passersby. Once the birds grow and can fly well, the problem solves itself, which is why they decided to close down the square for a maximum of two weeks.
In a local Facebook group, a member posted on Thursday that, according to authorities, the danger was over. Therefore, they will soon open the Ferenc Square playground and hold Children’s Day on Saturday there.
What can we do in case of a crow attack?
According to experts, in such cases, as a defence, we should face the bird (by not running away), spread our arms to appear much bigger and more intimidating, and even shout at the bird. If there are more aggressive birds (jackdaws, seagulls), you may use any bag, handbag, light backpack, coat, or umbrella that you have at hand to scare them away.
Attacks by hooded crows are not a problem unique to Budapest’s 9th district: they are also common in other parts of the capital. According to local news, an apartment complex in Tatabánya (Komárom-Esztergom County) is also terrorised by hooded crows.
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