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Comment by danielbln | Hacker News Reader

To put the story you linked in context, it's less "little girl feeds a couple of crows" and more "large scale feeding operation" that pisses of the neighbors: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Neighbors-sue-to-stop...

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Not enough data to draw a firm conclusion from here, but I've heard enough stories of busybody neighbors to be suspicious of anyone who comes in claiming that bird poop has caused $200,000 worth of property damage. You'd expect the whole neighborhood to be leveled every time a starling migration comes through.

I'm not sure if it's ever happened in the Pacific Northwest, but bird poop can contaminate areas with a pathogen that persists in the soil and causes a tuberculosis-like lung disease. I think there was even a town in the Midwest that had to be abandoned because of it. Bird poop is also a vector for various parasites that can harm you and your pets. (Plus it's gross.)

Edit: It's called "histoplasmosis".

Could it be Hopkinsville? http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/kentucky-town-unde...

Apparently there are a lot of rogue forces that can completely ruin a town. See Centralia, Peshtigo, Dust Bowl, Lake Peigneur, etc.

Well, that's one interpretation, and the city and health department have made statements disagreeing with it. We'll see what the courts say eventually, it's scheduled to go to trial in August 2016. http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Crow-feeding-Seattle-...

I think this says a lot : "A petition signed by 51 neighbors filed a petition with the city of Seattle failed to prompt action."

Here's another link, with video: http://www.kiro7.com/news/neighbors-sue-parents-portage-bay-...

The problem I see with "little girl feeds a couple of crows" is that the "couple of crows" will inevitably grow to a larger number...

... and then, in all likelihood, a murder.

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