Crows 'attack' residents trying to save baby bird
BBCA community has described how they were "viciously attacked" by two crows while trying save a baby bird that had fallen from its nest.
People living around Rievaulx Avenue in Billingham, Teesside, first spotted the chick on Tuesday morning and began to put out food, with children also laying jumpers to keep it warm.
One of those who helped said "anybody walking past the nest" was running the risk of being chased by the adults, as they tried to defend the young bird, which has since died.
The RSPB said during breeding season, crows will attack when there is "a threat towards their chicks" and warned people to keep their distance.
One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "Any time somebody approached the baby the big ones would viciously attack them.
"I saw them chase one man the whole way down the street and he wasn't even doing anything.
"A lot of people have been trying to feed it. Some school kids put out jumpers to keep it warm."
Another resident, who tried to look after the young bird, said she was "devastated" to find out it had died.
"It is just so sad, I didn't see it this morning and I did worry," she said.
"Hopefully they have other babies and they don't just have one at a time."
An RSPB spokesperson warned members of the public to "keep a distance from any nests during breeding season".
"Crows only tend to attack humans when they get near to their nests during the breeding season," they said.
"[They] usually keep to themselves and will only attack when they feel threatened themselves, or a threat towards their chicks."