Bullying crows attack children, parents at Tel Aviv kindergarten

Aggressive crows have reportedly been attacking parents and children at a kindergarten in central Tel Aviv, but the city says there is nothing it can do to stop the avian assaults.

Shelly Tapiero, a reporter for the Kan public broadcaster, posted on X on Monday that, a day earlier, she saw a crow attack a child as he was leaving the kindergarten, and that she herself was attacked on Monday.

“I witnessed a crow attack one of the children,” she wrote. “The terrified boy screamed, was overwhelmed, and ran away. This morning, I was attacked to the point of bleeding by a crow at the entrance to the kindergarten.”

She wrote that when she complained to the city, she was told that municipal officials attend only to wounded crows. The city appeared to confirm her account, writing that it is unable to stop the attacks.

“Hi Shelly, we’re sorry to hear about the attack,” Tel Aviv’s official X account responded. “As a municipality, there is nothing we can do about the phenomenon, and we are unable to get involved, and can only recommend that you keep your distance from the area until the chicks grow.”

Tapiero posted on Tuesday that a teacher at the kindergarten was attacked and, when she absented herself, her substitute was attacked.

One mother told Channel 12 that parents and staff have increasingly complained about crow attacks.

Parents who approached City Hall about the matter said they were told to contact the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. However, the INPA explained that, since crows are not a protected species, the responsibility lies with the municipality.

The Tel Aviv Municipality said in a statement that it is a known seasonal phenomenon that mostly happens during April and June, after the crows’ nesting period, when young crow chicks begin to fly.

“During this period, the crows protect their young with calls and swoops close to passersby,” it said. “In most cases, it is a frightening experience, but not dangerous, and physical contact with people is rare.”

Parents were unimpressed with the municipality’s attitude.

“It can’t be that the response from the municipality is to stay away from the area until the young crows grow,” another mother told Channel 12. “It can’t be that the response from the municipality is that the children don’t go to school or kindergarten. The municipality is prioritizing vengeful, attacking crows over the safety of children and other people.”

The municipality said in its statement that it acts “in accordance with professional guidelines to preserve nature in the city and does not intervene in cases like this, unless there is an exceptional case that requires individual examination.”

However, in the specific case of the kindergarten, the matter was handed over for examination by the veterinary department. On Tuesday morning, the city’s wildlife project manager visited the location and conferred with staff at the kindergarten.

“No young birds or unusual hazards were found in the area,” the municipality said, and noted that professional opinions are that the young birds only remain in the area for a few days and then join their flock and move on.

City Hall said it also initiated activities to explain to the kindergarten children about how the parent birds care for their young, to reduce anxiety among the children.

Similar crow attacks have been reported in other areas, and not always during nesting season. Joggers on Jerusalem’s Tayelet Haas Promenade say they are attacked by a particular “ragged” crow, with one runner telling The Times of Israel that the bird has drawn blood.