Ulsan Suffering Mass Influx of Crows

Crows are traditionally considered bad luck in Korea, at least when seen in ones or twos. And last month thousands of crows began to fly into Ulsan, the southern port city known for its mild winter temperatures. The bamboo forest near the Taehwa River that flows through Ulsan has become the perfect home for these crows. They travel thousands of miles from Central Asia and Siberia to spend the winter months where food is more abundant. The biggest worry for residents is that any one of these crows could be a carrier of avian influenza. Authorities are on high alert taking samples of the birds' excrement and warning nearby poultry farms to take precautions. Experts say the city can expect 50,000 more crows to take their winter vacations in there the end of this month. Numbers have been rising since 2002. Unless the crows find a new destination, Ulsan will be the official crow capital until they begin departing on their spring journeys next March.