A large-billed crow sits on a telephone poll in Seoul [NATIONAL SCIENCE MUSEUM]
The government has issued a nationwide advisory on Wednesday, warning residents of dive-bombing crows during the May to July nesting season.
The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment published the safety guidelines after a spate of bird attacks in recent years, including viral social media clips showing the avians swooping down on pedestrians in residential neighborhoods, striking them on the head and then circling back to attack the neck. Those targeted described the impact as feeling like being punched.
The culprit is the large-billed crow, the biggest crow species found in Korea, recognizable by its glossy black feathers, thick beak and 50-to-60-centimeter (20-to-24 inch) frame. The birds are increasingly common in urban areas and become highly aggressive between May and July, when their fledglings are learning to fly and spend time close to the ground. Parent birds treat any nearby human as a threat.
A screen capture of a large-billed crow attacking a person in Japan, uploaded on YouTube in July 2023 [SCREEN CAPTURE]
The ministry advised residents to wear hats or carry umbrellas in areas where the crows are present — and crucially, to avoid making direct eye contact as the birds perceive a human gaze as a threat.
"Do not leave food exposed that could attract crows, and move quickly through danger zones marked with warning signs," said Kim Gyeong-seok, head of the ministry's biodiversity division. Officials also warned of secondary injuries from people falling or stepping into traffic while trying to dodge an attack.
Residents are also strongly advised not to retaliate.
Crows have long memories. A 2010 study by researchers at the University of Washington found that crows remembered the faces of people who had captured them, and that the information spread to other birds, with more crows attacking the same masked figures five years later, even birds that had not been directly involved in the original encounter.
"Urban green spaces and food sources have increased, making cities more livable for crows," said Choi Yu-seong, a researcher at the National Institute of Biological Resources. "We are analyzing their behavior and looking for science-based solutions for coexistence."
A large-billed crow [NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES]
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
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