Russell The Crow may not be as famous as his namesake, actor Russell Crowe, but his intelligent antics have caught the attention of Charlottetown city council members. Guardian photo
It may take many by surprise that Russell Crowe lives in Charlottetown.
No sorry, it’s actually Russell the Crow that lives in Charlottetown.
During a recent spirited debate about the overabundances of crows in Prince Edward Island’s capital city, Coun. Melissa Hilton shared a story about a crow named Russell that has taken up residence at her neighbour’s home.
“He consistently comes back to my neighbours so they called him Russell, Russell Crow,” Hilton said during the council meeting.
“He sits on their fence and says ‘hello, hello,’” as Hilton raised the pitch of her voice to sound more like the crow.
“He’s very intelligent.”
By this time, the entire council chamber erupted into laughter.
Crows seem to bring out the best in city councillors.
During the October meeting, Charlottetown Deputy Mayor Stu MacFadyen said some people have a problem with the crows but the birds have been in the city longer than he has and he doesn’t want to do anything to hurt the birds.
“The crows were put there by somebody much more powerful than we are,” he said last month. “We can’t mess with that fellow.”
The city has been locked in a losing battle with the crows. City residents complain the large flocks of crows are causing concerns from noise levels in the early morning hours to constant clean ups from their droppings throughout the day.
The problem started in Victoria Park but has now spread to other areas of the city, including the posh Brighton neighbourhood.
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vox Populi from ch'town, PEi writes: Leave the crows alone.
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Jabba from NB writes: Well I was a little annoyed when I glanced at the headline, only to discover the fluffiest of fluff pieces.
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ben barr from cornwall, pei writes: have been a lot of research resently on crows and their are smarter than a lot of us.
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ahhhh from PE writes: I guess Ms. Hilton's absorption with this fabulous crow explains why she never responded to an email of mine regarding dangerous traffic in my neighborhood.
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Joe Martell from Charlottetown, PE writes: As I was read about Russell the Crow, I hear caw-caw-caw in the background. No fancy new sound effect by The Guardian website, just a crow outside on the deck announcing its presence. Likely a cousin of Russell's.
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thought I was crazy from pei writes: I saw and heard this crow last summer. He was sitting on a wire in my yard and when I stepped out on the deck, I heard Hello, Hello, as clear as a bell. Looking around, I realized there was noone there but this crow. I thought I was loosing my mind. Don't think anyone believed me when I told them about it.
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Crow that Talks from PEI writes: Well, I witnessed a crow who sat on the railing outside a Ch'town business every day. An employee fed the crow daily. She repeated her name to the crow on various occassions. Not long after the crow was heard while sitting on the railing calling the lady's name. She would then go out and feed the crow. Many heard this crow call the lady's name!
As a child I also witnessed a crow talk. My friend's brother was a bird lover. He had a black crow. It went with him everything and sat on his shoulder. The crow could speak a number of words very distinctly! And we as kids thought it was the best entertainment ever! We gathered everyday to hear the crow talk!
In my opinion, don't under-estimate the intelligence of crows! According to David Susuzki sp? they are the third most intelligent species next to humans!
So good luck to the City with their Noise Makers to get rid of crows!!! If you play music you will be able to watch them dance and may money as a tourist attraction!! And I'm not just trying to be funny! Some crows are more intelligent than some people!! Ummmmm
Leave the crows alone they could be our ancestors!
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Crow Friend from Prince Edward Island writes: I know this crow from the Sherwood area...but I recently moved to another location in Charlottetown and was walking to work one day near Inkerman Drive and lo' and behold this fellow (or another 'hello' crow) was greeting me on the street. Quite an impression on the new neighbours I bet seeing the new guy saying hello in a hi pitched voice on the sidewalk to an invisible recipient...I enjoy our meetings very much...
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matt from PE writes: I've always believed crows are smart so smart I think I'd like to see them on city council.
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Consumer from Charlottetown, PE writes: Let's leave the crows alone.
It's a waste of money and it's a waste of time. They clean up all the waste left on the ground by our citizens and tourists. I bet if the crows weren't eating all that garbage, rats would be happy to multiply in numbers and eat it up like they do in other cities. Personally I'd prefer crows to rats any day. Once rats get out of control, there's no stopping them.
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Watchful Heron from BC writes: Forget about the crows. What about the serious issues - like PNP? Now, there's a real scavenger story for you. Funny how that squawking has stopped.
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Russel's Fan from Ch'Town, PEI writes: It's about time Russell made it into the paper....He makes his rounds, that's for sure. He is at my place of work EVERY day. We crazies have conversations with him lol. Hello Russell and he says Hello back. I've also seen him in my front yard in Sherwood and at Burger King one day getting some lunch.
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wow from pei writes: really now lets not spend to much time on this,the crow is not that smart, he just makes a sound that sounds like hello,it bad enough that it was talked about at a town council meeting, but then the guardian reports it. Do we ever need a big snow storm to give people something to talk about.
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John Baltic from Montague, PE writes: Crows rock - leave 'em alone! If council wants to do something constructive then exterminate the pigeons around town. After humans and dolphins, crows are number three on the food chain.
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Sam from PEI writes: I think it's a Raven and not a Crow that says Hello to Melissa. When I worked at Beach Grove there was a Raven that used to say hello to the girl at the front desk every morning as she came in to the building for work! There is a crow with a white patch under his eye that comes by our yard every day waiting for my husband to feed him! And to think he growls at me for feeding the animals in the neighbourhood! No foxes or coyotes though.
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Alex Brown from Charlotteotwn, P.E.I. writes: This Crow is the greatest thing to happen to P.E.I. it is only fitting that this story actually graces the front page of the island's most widely read newspaper. The Crow is symbolic nay, it is the embodiment of Price Edward island spirit.
The article's only downfall is that somehow they National Post failed to cover this story, they are really going to feel like they dropped the ball on this one. Points to the Guardian for having the gumption to take this story seriously and report on the real hard hitting news affecting our daily lives. Bravo and keep up the good work with the stellar journalism.
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