Crows have inhabited Mumbai for decades. Some of them call the area of Byculla their home for generations. The birds are adamant that they are among the first inhabitants of Victoria Gardens and will not allow themselves to be evicted by their reckless neighbors.
“We came to nest here ever since the buildings were just being built. We are the original natives of this place, and we will not yield it to a bunch of inconsiderate jerks. My grandfather nested here, my father nested here, and my offspring will nest here as well. That’s why we are determined to do everything in our power to legally force our human neighbors to follow some simple rules, so we can thrive in peace together,” said Dinesh the head crow.
He explained that the problem is complex. On the one hand, there is less and less garbage on the streets. People become cleaner, which seriously endangers the poor working-class crow’s livelihood, which relies on discarded food and other waste to make ends meet. “Where are we supposed to find food for our families? Where are we supposed to find material for our nests? These jerks will have to change their ways. Now I have to fly to an adjacent neighborhood, just to find a piece of cheese or a loaf of bread for the younglings”, explains Dinesh. He added that it’s not uncommon to meet unfriendly local crows who chase him away and sometimes even injure him.
On the other hand, there is the lack of breakfast. “Let’s say I’m OK to fly several miles to find some stuff for the house or bring home some food. Let’s say that’s OK. But am I supposed to do this on an empty stomach? Nothing is open here before 10 am, and we can’t steal anything from the humans, since most of them unwisely skip breakfast. Even The BreakFirst Club doesn’t deliver to our nests. The humans at least have this covered”, the young crow continues to complain.
The birds want humans to start throwing their trash more randomly, so they can go through it. After that, they are OK if it’s cleaned up. Furthermore, they will insist on the BreakFirst club to start delivering breakfast to their nests. This way, they won’t have to work on an empty stomach and won’t need to fly miles just to grab a breakfast like a normal person.
The crows are ready to negotiate with humans if they are willing to meet their primal needs. Otherwise, the court will be the one to decide whether the birds’ demands are just or not. The crows are certain that the court will rule in their favor.