A Gentle Call, a Soaring Bond: Mangaluru Man Feeds 150 Crows Daily in Rare Urban Ritual

Mangaluru: In the riverside neighborhood of Bokkapatna, a touching and unusual ritual takes place every afternoon. As the sound of a steel plate being tapped rings out, the sky fills with black wings and familiar calls—over 150 crows swoop down to feast, summoned by one man’s quiet devotion.

That man is Jay Narayan Poojary, an employee at the Abbakka Queen Cruise Hotel. For five years, feeding crows has been part of his daily routine. “It started with one or two birds. Now there’s a whole flock,” he says with a smile. Before serving lunch to guests, Poojary places rice and rasam outside and taps the plate. In moments, the crows arrive.

“It’s more than just feeding birds,” explains cruise manager Ranjith. “It’s a message of peaceful coexistence with nature.” In Poojary’s absence, his colleague Satish takes on the role, keeping the tradition alive since their days at the old port.

Though often dismissed as noisy scavengers, crows serve a vital purpose in the urban ecosystem. As natural cleaners, they dispose of organic waste, help prevent disease outbreaks, and even reduce pest bird populations like pigeons. Their shrinking numbers in cities make efforts like Poojary’s more meaningful.

His quiet dedication has drawn comparisons to Odisha’s Kanhu Behera, known for feeding hundreds of peacocks. Like Kanhu, Poojary reminds us that compassion can cross species boundaries.

Locals admire the sight. “He’s doing something special,” they say, watching crows gather at his call—turning their daily ‘caw’ into a song of harmony.