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A debate which saw crowbangers described as being like a “military cannon” erupted on RTÉ’s Liveline on Tuesday.
Maurice Fitzgerald called the show to air his grievances over a crowbanger going off near his home.
“These crow bangers seem to be a huge problem in this country now. I’m listening to them going off throughout the summer. I think they really spoil the summer and I don’t think they work anyways because the birds, they kind of come between the bangs.
“I don’t know why farmers are throwing away thousands on these crowbangers when all they’re really good for is disturbing the community and disturbing people at the end of the day.
I think they’re really good at destroying the peace of the community and I think they should be banned
“They’re so loud now they’re essentially like a military cannon that go off every so often, I think they can bring them down to every four minutes or even less than four minutes and they’re as loud as a shotgun or even louder.
“I really think they’re a problem like for the community because they can be heard from up to a mile away. I think they’re quite ineffective at scaring away birds, because birds will come back like between the bangs. I think they’re really good at destroying the peace of the community and I think they should be banned.”
He said the gardaí need more powers to go on to private property and do what they have to do to “shut down these very disturbing events”.
No alternative
Robert Rowe, a farmer from Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, said he has a crowbanger and that when he needs it, he uses it.
“I would like to ask him [Maurice] what does the farmer do to keep the birds off his crop? He’s depending on his barley, wheat and oats and if the crows or pigeons are coming in to destroy it on him he has no alternative but to put a banger up or a scarecrow, but sometimes those don’t work. The banger is the only thing that works,” he said.
Where are you getting your food in the morning from? It’s coming from the land and it’s coming from the farmer
He added that crows can “level an acre or two in a couple of days”.
He said taking a crowbanger away is the “same as someone putting their hand in your pocket and taking your wages at the end of the week. What would you think of that?
“Where are you getting your food in the morning from? It’s coming from the land and it’s coming from the farmer. Have a little bit of appreciation for the farmer,” he said.
Flying vermin
Another caller called Jonathan Cullen, from a farming background and working in agriculture, said crows can really be described as flying vermin.
“They have no regard for anything bar themselves. They could destroy a crop within hours.”
Farmer’s daughter Ann also weighed in on the debate, saying that she pitied the farmer that Fitzgerald lives beside.
“What he’s coming out with … that’s part of farming. If he doesn’t want that to happen near him, he should just move back to the city,” she said.
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