Have you spotted the avian vandals at work?

OVER the last 2 years we have been getting reports of crows attacking window frames and car wiper blades in and around the Formby area. As a result we have also had a look out and have even managed to watch this strange attack taking place on a number of occasions. The result for many car owners is they find their car windows start to leak and wiper blades often become shredded. We are currently trying to find out why this is happening and also posted a request to see if others have been affected by this, on our Social Media accounts.

When we heard about this odd issue we thought the explanation from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) might be correct, that the crow thinks its reflection is another bird. As they are highly territorial, the idea is that the crow will attack the reflection within the windows and other reflective surfaces should they feel threatened by their reflection. Frustratingly, this explanation does not fit why they like to strip the rubber from windscreen wiper blades and also that some residents in Formby have found that they pick at plastic garden decking, kids plastic toys and even garden tables? Also, it is not just crows that are doing this, with other birds now being spotted doing this. This suggestion by Peter Smith, from Southport, made an interesting reading, that they could be:- "Eating insects trapped between the glass/frame and the rubber." That explanation might fit some of this strange behaviour, but not all of it.

Mike O'Connell posted to 1 of our requests for information on Facebook that:- "We've had this problem at my work, in Halsall, for several years now, with a particular couple of crows attacking our wagons and splitting the wiper blades, since the 1st couple of times it happening I now cover the wipers with old compost bags, which stops them. It's a pain having to remove and re-cover every day, but it stops them. They even pulled out the rubber trim from the side of the windscreen a couple of times! Short of blasting them out of the sky with a shotgun, it's a constant problem! My car used to get done there as well but since I have fitted aero blades they don't seem to be able to peck the thicker rubber!"

Dawn Yates, from Ainsdale has told us the:- "I used to watch a crow attack the same car everyday next door to bods. That building is now closed. There were a few cars parked, but it just landed on 1 everyday. The bird slid down the windscreen then went back to the roof. It did this the whole time I was there with my daughter, at the playground. Always wondered what it was trying to do. This went on for months..."

Since we started investigating this issue, we have since discovered that this odd behaviour has been taken place in other areas of the UK, like Greenfields Community Housing's Headquarters, in Braintree, Essex, back in 2020, where a hungry crow was found to be doing the same thing. It’s also been reported to have happened at a York park and ride as far back as 2016.

In an interview conducted by BBC News in connection to the Essex issue, Tony Whitehead, and RSPB spokesman, said:- "While the behaviour was known it was not common, although the cause was a mystery. Nobody really knows why they do it, but there are a couple of possible explanations."

If you have been affected by the avian vandals, please do let us know, as we are interested to discover just how common this issue really is? Please email us your sightings to:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com or post a message to us on:- Twitter or on Facebook.

Interestingly, did you know Vandals were a Germanic people who 1st inhabited what is now known as Southern Poland? They are known to have ravaged Gaul, Spain, Rome (455), and North Africa over the 4th and 5th centuries. The modern term vandalism stems from the Vandals' reputation as the barbarian people who sacked and looted Rome under King Genseric, in 455. Gaiseric, also known as Geiseric or Genseric was King of the Vandals and Alans.

Consultation closes on new bold plans for the future of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service

EXCITING plans to increase the number of fire engines and the development of a new state of the art training School for Merseyside's firefighters are 1 step closer to coming to fruition following the closure of a 12 week consultation. Proposals contained within Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service's (MFRS) draft Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) 2021 to 2024 represent a continued optimism for the Service after a lengthy period of cuts which have resulted in the loss of Fire Stations, fire engines and firefighters. But, "enough is enough" for Chief Fire Officer Phil Garrigan, with his bold plans looking to build on the Service's current IRMP and increase the number of fire engines for the 2nd time in as many years. A 12 week public consultation into the IRMP closed on Monday, 24 May 2021, with the plans now set to go to the Fire and Rescue Authority, on 1 July 2021, for approval.

The plans include:-

► An increase of available fire engines from 29 (plus the Special Rescue Appliance) to 31 (plus the Special Rescue Appliance). This will be achieved through the expansion of the innovative hybrid duty system, a system 1st introduced by the Service in 2018 in order to protect night time cover at Liverpool City and Wallasey Fire Stations.

► The merger of the stations at Aintree and Croxteth to create a superstation along with a new Training and Development Academy to be built on land at Long Lane, Aintree. A separate full public consultation will take place on this proposal later this summer.

► The combination of the duty systems at Liverpool City and Kensington Fire Stations to create a Dual Station Hybrid - including a specialist command and control function.

► The introduction of a High Reach Extendable Turret (HRET) appliance, at St Helens, to replace the complementary crewed combined platform ladder. This type of appliance would allow us to fight all normal fires, but can also be used as a water tower and has a lance that can be used to pierce roof spaces or light industrial buildings.

► The introduction of our drone (aerial) capability after being agreed in our previous IRMP. This capability will be managed by the Protection team and will also be used day to day to support their work auditing high risk premises.

The proposals will also see MFRS' specialist appliances move to create specialist capability Fire Stations. The appliances will be based in locations where there is more likelihood of a particular type of risk occurring. As well as the appliances being based at these locations, the firefighters working there will have extra training to give them a higher level of knowledge about these risks and how to deal with them.

We want to create specialist Fire Stations at:-

► Liverpool City - Command and Control.

► Wallasey - Marine and Ships Firefighting.

► St Helens - Hazmat (Hazardous Materials)

► Proposed Long Lane Site - Urban Search and Rescue.

► Belle Vale - High Volume Pump.

► Kirkdale - Terrorist and Flood Response.

► Heswall and Formby - Wildfire.

The proposal to introduce specialist teams will have an initial impact on the time taken to train our firefighters so it is also proposed to create a temporary capability (a 32nd fire engine) during 2021 aligned to the Comprehensive Spending Review to ensure there are no negative impacts on our emergency response due to specialist training.

Speaking about his plans, Chief Garrigan said:- "After years of relentless cutbacks which have forced us to reduce firefighter numbers and close Fire Stations, enough is enough - Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service deserves the investment and resources that reflect the risks we face and the commitment and professionalism of our operational and support staff. I have made no secret of my vision for our Fire and Rescue Service, I firmly believe we are the best Fire and Rescue Service in the country with the very best most compassionate people at our core. I genuinely believe these plans make us better again, they make us more resilient, more effective and quicker to respond, whilst ensuring we are equipped to meet the demands placed on a modern day fire and rescue service. We have already increased the number of fire engines from 26 to 29 and it is only right that we continue to increase this further wherever possible. Whilst we are not in a position to increase firefighter numbers as part of this plan, we will continue to recruit and train the very best people who represent the diverse communities we serve. We will continue to invest in our Prevention and Protection departments to increase fire safety in both the home and businesses, particularly for those living or working in high rise buildings."

Chief Garrigan added:- "I would like to thank all of those who have taken the time to read our proposals and had their say during our 12 week consultation. I now look forward to taking these plans forward for formal approval by the Fire and Rescue Authority on 1 July 2021. The approval of these plans would, in my view, ensure that the Service is better equipped to protect the public of Merseyside now and in the future."