Balloons shaped like intimidating eyes hang in trees, waving in the wind to ward off crows. Other scare strategies have included placing artificial owls on rooftops and planting tape players. Erickson said the solar-powered tape players send out a noisy distress call, which have been effective in frightening the birds. He also stressed that Campus Services has not resorted to harming the animals in order to reduce their numbers. James Dinsmore, professor of animal ecology, said he sees the crows in a different way.
Crows are very intelligent birds.
Up to a point, they are not a problem. They've been here for a long time, and someone's got to provide a space for them. Some people have expressed concern about crows becoming a health hazard. But Dinsmore said the crows do not carry disease and cause no health threat. He said the majority of crows present in Ames have migrated here from northern Iowa, Minnesota and Canada to spend the winter.