Territorial birds - dubbed Sheryl Crow, Russell Crowe and Jeremy Crowbyn - take advantage of lockdown at Northumberland café
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The carrion crows – dubbed Sheryl Crow, Russell Crowe and Jeremy Crowbyn – have taken advantage of the closure of Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre, near Amble.
When the centre’s Lookout Café closed in March due to lockdown, the trio suddenly realised that all the humans had gone and they could fly up to the four large windows and have a look in.
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Hide AdUnfortunately, the highly territorial crows didn’t realise they were actually watching their own reflections in the glass and set about getting in.
Not content with pulling out the rubber seals, they moved on to taking huge chunks out the wooden frames which were only installed three years ago.
In an attempt to stop them, Northumbria Wildlife Trust estates officer Anthony Johnston covered the exceptionally large windows in plastic netting which was promptly removed in record time and triumphantly tossed away.
Undeterred, he moved on to wire netting which they manipulated off the window with their strong beaks and dropped onto the grass,
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Hide AdNow, he is bringing out the big guns with sheets of board nailed to what’s left of the window surrounds.
Once the Lookout Café is re-opened, they will need extensive and expensive repairs.
Anthony said: “With the window boarded up it looks like we’ve had looters.”
“They even send me off home with their noisy ‘kraa’ call and I respond with a quick salute.”