Crows think they are in charge of everything. They fly were they want; they rarely back down, and they carry a grudge.
Last year in May I started a drive-way repair program at our home. The plan was to touch-up and then resurface the asphalt driveway that nearly encircles our home. I cleaned out the area under the three-car carport including an old washtub my wife Peg used as a holder of potting soil for her plants. There was no soil left, but there were numerous screens, tiles, etc. filling the tub. I pulled the tub out and across the drive-way and left in on the grass until I was through with the project is September. Now it is May and the tub is still there.
Why is the tub there? Because it filled with water and the deer visiting our yard enjoyed the watering hole. In addition the crows think they own the tub and the water. Other birds use the tub as well, but the crows own the concession stand.
Here are some things to know about crows.
- They are bossy.
- They are brave and will even take on eagles when they invade crow air space.
- They are smart.
Some time ago looking down on our drive-way from our kitchen window, I kept wondering what the scattered white porcelain looking, shiny pieces were all over the asphalt. On a closer inspection of our drive-way my wife and I found they were broken snail shells. The crows would find snails (we’re just uphill from the shoreline along Ruston Way) and drop them from a height that broke them open. We have found empty walnut and filbert shells as well.
I moved the tub so I could watch the activity a bit better and have taken more notice of the crows. At first I thought they were bringing orange peels to the tub for cleaning and eating, but have since started wondering if perhaps, it’s not orange peels, but starfish.
I found a great piece on Pacific Northwest shoreline eating habits of gulls and crows – archive.westernfieldornithologists.org/archive/V13/13%20(1-4)%20p0001-p0012.pdf
It turns out the snail shells could actually be cockle shells as in the folk song “Molly Malone (Cockles & Mussels).” I had no idea we had local cockles. Cockle shells to me look more like scallops. Wikipedia says “A cockle is an edible, marine bivalve mollusk . . . True cockles live in sandy, sheltered beaches throughout the world.” The Suquamish and I’m guessing other Northwest Native American coastal tribes love cockles and clams.
It also turns out that gulls and crows like the same shoreline food. The only real difference seems to be that crows don’t like to wade in the water. Seagulls eat starfish (both orange and purple), so I’m willing to bet that crows eat starfish as well.
I tried to photograph crows returning to our watering tub. I would see a crows fly to the tub as I sat at my desk. In the two seconds it took to get up and open my slightly ajar door the crow would leave. Even though I have a glass storm door and stayed behind it, the crows somehow knew I was watching. I have seen a documentary on crows, so I know they recognize faces and if you do them wrong, they never forget who you are and try to get even.
Six or seven times I saw a crow at the tub. By the time I opened the door it was gone. I began to formulate idea on how to outsmart the crow, but each time I tried a different technique, the crow knew someone was stalking them . . . and it flew away. Soon I gave up and just sat at my computer. A few minutes later a crow came back and landed in the grass about forty feet away and then it hopped onto the driveway and walked straight towards me. It stopped about five feet from my desk window. He just looked at my window. After about ten seconds he was satisfied that I offered no threat and it turned around and walked away. I could have opened the door and confronted him, but I was afraid he might be carrying a gun.
The Cunning Old Crow
by Anonymous
On the limb of an oak sat a cunning old crow,
And chatted away with glee,
As he saw the old farmer go out to sow,
And he cried, “It’s all for me!
“Look, look, how he scatters his seeds around;
How wonderfully kind to the poor!
If he’d empty it down in a pile on the ground,
I could find it much better, I’m sure!
“I’ve learned all the tricks of this wonderful man,
Who has such regard for the crow
That he lays out his grounds in a regular plan,
And covers his corn in a row.
“He must have a very great fancy for me;
He tries to entrap me enough,
But I measure his distance as well as he,
And when he comes near, I’m off.”
Read more Fascinating Facts About Crows Here – mentalfloss.com/article/504722/12-fascinating-facts-about-crows
The views expressed in this article are the writer’s own.
I love to startle my friends when they call and ask what I’m doing. I innocently reply that I’m watching the murder in my yard at the moment!!!!
Those birds are so smart…I love watching their antics. Great story.
Jerri,
Thanks for commenting. Ah, yes . . . a murder most fowl.
I’m glad you liked the article. They are entertaining, but I have to got to find out where they are getting their seafood.
Thanks for sharing.
Don
I suspect they made some sort of deal with the gulls.
Molly,
Thanks for commenting . . . and giving me an afternoon chuckle. The crows and the gulls may work together as a team. Thanks for sharing. Don
Ravens are large Crows X2. For some reason there are a LOT more ravens than crows in Prescott, AZ.
I have emptied the furthest birdbath in our yard, which we can’t see from the house. The crows like to wash their food in it – I draw in the welcome mat when I start seeing parts of baby birds or rodents in it. Crows are not my favorite birds.
Kris,
Yes, Crows seem to be quite far up on the bossy spectrum. It is amazing at how smart they are, however. Deer and wandering dogs lap at the watering tub, too.
Thanks for sharing.
Don
What a beautiful article about one of my favorite bird species, Don! We have a single crow visiting our garden every day. It is very shy and adorably cute. It wades in the bird bath on hot days (so, either it is a weirdo or they DO wade after all), and the other day it brought a huge marrow bone into it that it hacked into to get to the marrow. It also loves our birdfeeder … and peanuts. These days, when we haven’t set out anything for it and it hasn’t brought any picnic of its own, it carefully hops up our porch steps and peers whether there is something there. I always call it “Mr. Crow” (hoping I’m not misnaming a female, LOL), and I think it recognizes my husband, too. It surely knows that any wildlife is welcome to our backyard as long as they don’t upset the beds. And somehow the wildlife knows. Don’t ask me how. This crow, though, makes me feel extra-warm on the inside.
Susanne,
Thanks for commenting. Did your crow drop the bone on to the driveway or a large rock or did it get to the marrow with it’s beak? You’re the second or third person to mention peanuts. I’m going get some back bags of peanuts and see what happens. Mr or Mrs as long as you show respect, I think that’s all they are looking for. They probably don’t know our sex, but divide us by “kind” or “human.” Thanks for sharing.
Don
p.s. We are bringing three walking sticks with us to Eastern Washington just in case of rattle snakes. Thanks for the warning.
D
I also have a few crows who’ve been regular visitors. Most of them are very cautious, and will retreat to the phone wires, or the pine trees across the street, if I come through my front door. But there’ve been a few who, when seeing me emerge from my home, will fly down to my arbor, and one who will land on my driveway within 3 feet of me, and wait to see what I have to offer them.
As we do feed the birds, and…sigh…the squirrels…I also make sure I have something to offer the crows as well. They like the whole kernel dried feed corn a lot. Peanuts in a shell seems to be their favorite, and if I have a bit of granola or trail mix that goes a bit stale, I get kudos for that.
We had one large old fellow we’d named Crow-Magnon, but I believe he died some years back. Now…it’s Chef Ramsay. The Chef likes to grab a beak full of dried feed corn, and drop it into the bird bath, for softening. He does this with popcorn too, to make it easier to swallow I suppose. He’s been a daily visitor for some time and has recently brought a ‘friend’ with him. Likely a new mate. I love crows.
J. Gordon,
Thanks for commenting. I like the details of friendship and sharing . . . and their names. Good point on the granola. We just cleaned out the kitchen cabinets and threw away some cereals that might have please, our crows. Next time they’ll get a treat. I have seen our crows swoop down for slices of apples and peanuts if the deer turn up their noses. Thanks for sharing.
Don
Great photography and story. I’ve been fascinated with crows for years but particularly after reading about the extensive study at the University of Washington. Humans are so arrogant about their superior intelligence and that study should be humbling 🙂
Nan,
I’m glad you liked he article. The UofW study is the documentary showing how they know faces based on masks and such? I, too, thought it was outstanding . . . possibly written by crows.
Thanks for sharing.
Don
I have a crow who likes to soak whole pieces of bread (left by a neighbor) in my bird bath. If you should see him (or her) please ask him to remove the entire slice after he devours his selected portion of it. Failing that, if he could replace the the fouled water with clean water, it would be greatly appreciated.
Aaron,
Thanks for commenting.
In my experience crows like to waited on. Plus, they have a way of getting even if they feel put-upon or insulted . . . in the least. Have you done a search for animals that prefer soggy bread and are willing to change the water on occasion? Otherwise, I think your crow has trained you fairly well:-)
Thanks for sharing.
Don
Aaron,
Thanks for commenting. The bread thing is common. We are going to empty the tub today and clean up the gunk. Just imagine the little ponds all around the area where people through slices of bread to the ducks. How much has soggy bread settles to the bottom. Crows are really smart, so perhaps you could install a hose and spigot for your crow? Just a thought. Thanks for sharing. Crows do what the want just beCAWS they can.
Don
I generally empty and clean my bird bath on a daily basis, especially as there have been warnings about bird die offs due to salmonella. My birdbath is one of those less expensive resin/plastic ones, so if I don’t clean it on a daily basis, it starts growing yellowish slime, that will turn to the green slime fairly quickly.
So…I empty the water, bring on the bleach and scrub brush, hose it down, and then re-fill it on a daily basis. Due to the salmonella issue, I’ve ordered new bird feeders that are made of materials easier cleaned and sanitized.
As a head’s up…I read an article which requests that when civilians find a dead bird, especially if it seems to have suffered no apparent injury, call the County Health Dept. and report the dead bird. This is due to the salmonella issue.
Well done. Thanks for posting.
Dan,
Thanks for commenting. I’m glad you enjoyed the article .
Don
We have an Irish setter who hates crows. When we are on walks and she sees one she goes wild, pulling and barking. I’ve tried to remind her she’s a bird dog but with crows she doesn’t stop and “set”. Any other bird she has no problem. A couple of years ago we did have a problem with crows dive bombing her until one day there was a dead crow in our yard. They haven’t bothered her since. Coincidentally, when we bought our Malamute we found he was sired by Crow and Slayer. It seems we now have a no fly zone for crows around our house.
Gail,
Thanks for the comments. Crows learn fast, but like I said they hold a grudge, so be careful. Funny you should mention your Malamute. Early this morning I was working at my desk and through my blinds I could see movement going. I opened the blinds to find two gorgeous Malamutes sniffing and playing in my yard and wandering past my stairs that lead up to our deck. The disappeared, so I opened the door for a better look and one whipped past and made straight to our hallway. It turned right and made it to our bedroom, where my wife was still sleeping. I motioned for it to follow me and we went down the hall and into my workroom/office and opened the door (hoping that the other one wasn’t seeking a home tour as well) and out it went. They would good looking dogs and probably not cheap. I would like a no-fly crow zone, buy it is interesting seeing them operate.
Thanks for sharing.
Don
I really enjoyed reading your article. Thank you.
Bev,
Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed my article on crows.
Don
What a nice article. I had crows that would follow me and my poodle on our walks. I would throw peanuts down on the sidewalk and they would fly down right behind us and eat the peanuts. They are not afraid at all. My little Amos poodle, would just ignore them, they towered over him. Several years they followed us, when their babies were old enough, they too would fly from tree to tree begging me for peanuts. People were amazed at us. I lost my walking buddy now, but I still have a couple of crows that greet me early in the morning,
looking for handouts. I think they must be like the kids of the original ones. Oh,
and to be completely old fashioned, I named them Heckl and Jeckl.
Again Thank you for your nice crow story.
Toni, Thanks for commenting. I keep a bag of peanuts on my work counter for the deer when I run out of apples. Sometimes the crows will swoop down and take a slice of apple or a peanut left behind by a deer. Sorry to read about the loss of your walking buddy. I may start leaving a handful for them each morning and see what happens. You can’t have too many animal friends. We’re all related and I know a lot of friends who are nuts . . . so there we go . . . a good combination. Thanks for sharing.
Don
I love these ” crow” stories. I feed birds, all birds but have rarely seen crows in my yard. That is until I broke up a stale loaf of bread and scattered the chunks having run out of birdseed. Three crows showed up and ate all of the bread plus drank the water in our pool cover. Now they return everyday and perch on the fence. They stay put while the dog races around the yard but make a big deal of swooping and wing flapping if I go out. I am not scared…yet but definitely cautious and frankly fascinated by crows.
Gale,
Thanks for commenting. Do the crows have a particular taste? Wonderbread? Seedy? Raisin? Sourdough? Do they appreciate toast as well? Our’s perch on the electrical and phone lines and swoop down to inspect the tub (birdbath) and lawn for bugs and worms depending on the weather? Thanks for sharing.
Don
When I was around 10 years old, I lived next to a farmer who was in a constant battle with crowes. He hired me for 1 dollar a Crowe so I started shooting them. They started to recognize me and fly away. If I walked outside they would leave. I would wake up at 5am. Camo up and bury myself in leaves. This worked well but I started to notice that if I shot a Crowe, the others would all attack one Crowe. This happened many times. There was a sentry whose job was to alert if they saw me. Crowes are in fact structured and intelligent.
Rob,
Thanks for commenting. From your description of whittling down the crow population it explains the “Wanted for Murder” flyers I saw them passing around earlier. Good luck and thanks for sharing. Like I said, they always hold a grudge. Structured and intelligent has got to be their calling card for sure. Thanks for sharing.
Don
These are actually ravens. It’s an easy mistake to make and they’re both great birds.
Heather,
Thanks for commenting. I know we have both here in the Pacific Northwest. I listened to the sounds of both ravens and crows on the net, but decided we had crows, but could well be wrong. I know the tails are a great tell, also, but the birds wouldn’t stand still for me and show me their backsides.
Thanks for sharing. Great info.
Don
Here is a good article on how to tell a crow from a raven.
https://www.audubon.org/news/how-tell-raven-crow
Thanks for the Audubon link. I watched the Ravens in the parking lot. I think the title should be, “Jaywalking Ravens.”
Crows organize into tribes which have territories. Crows do not tolerate other tribe members feeding in their territory but flyovers are ok. The tribes will unite against common threats especially other birds of prey. Once they have dealt with the problem, the tribes separate back to their respective territories. I agree that they hold grudges. They do remember and will call the tribe and the tribe responds. Maybe nearby tribes as well to assist in making their point.
Jordie,
Thanks for commenting. Your info about crow territories and tribe fits well with Peg and I earlier this afternoon. We watched a crow sitting in one tree being dive bombed by one dedicated crow and a fellow crow ready to lend a wing as well. We watched them for a good fifteen minutes. It was better than watching the news!
Thanks for sharing.
Don
If you’re patient it’s not hard to get crows and ravens to trust ya. I’ve friended numerous wild crows. Whenever I would be outside at work they would fly close and not let me get too far from them. And they would fly away if anyone else came up. I’ve always found that it’s easier to get one crow to trust you and that crow will eventually introduce you to their mate. Then after that they might bring other family and neighbors. I’ve always found that if you find one that has a limp or something along them lines they tend to be easier to build a trust with. And if they trust you enough they will even come to you to warn you about strange people in the area and even when eagles come around. Pretty funny when you realize that you are part of their club. Fascinating critters. Wicked smart!
Tom,
Thanks for commenting. Crows are soooo interesting. I’m going to move their watering tub about ten feet so I can more easily see it from my desk. Right now it’s almost directly under our power lines. Maybe I’ll play the song from Peter Pan, “I’ve got to Crow” to entertain them.
Thanks so much for sharing you thoughts and information on crow friendship.
Don
Great piece about Corvus brachyrhynchos, Don! I participated in that UW study about crows, Nan refers to. The intellectual and rascalogical traits crows and humans share are telling. Their smartness is illustrated by the fact that they don’t trust us humans at all, no matter how often we feed and water them. They remember and recognize the danger guns pose, something many humans can’t seem to manage.
Bill,
Thanks for commenting. I didn’t know that you were involved with the study at the University of Washington . . . were you crowbate? Did you wear the disguise?
You are so correct. A crow would never shoot down their own. Obviously they are more humane than us humans.
Thanks for sharing.
Don
What did you do in the study? Did you design the study, participate in the actual production and what did you do? I’m fascinated with the study. Is their a paper that was written about the study and where is it available?
We have ‘fish hawks’ a type of corvid, at our Florida house. I think they are funny & smart, & they come when I sit on the deck & call to them. I give them bits of chopped hot dog as a treat.
Suz,
I’m guessing your fish hawks aren’t corvid-19 flyers. Thanks for commenting. I love human and animal interaction. We’re all related. I’ve just got to know . . . Ball Park Franks? Thanks for sharing.
Don
OMG… ” I could have opened the door and confronted him, but I was afraid he might be carrying a gun.” This comment caught me off guard, choked on my tea and had me laughing so hard, screaming funny… Thank you!!
Coni,
Thanks for commenting. Caught you off guard? Actually, I’m always enguard. I love puns and humor. I’m glad I made you laugh, but sorry about the choking bit. Thanks for sharing.
Don
I shoot crows every chance I get. 29 last year. 6 so far this year. Sure, they know me and are nervous when in my neighborhood. I generally keep my stealth, because I find they are forgetful, or just focused. Their focus is on the native baby songbirds, Robins, Junkos and garbage cans. Opportunists they are, and thrive they do, at the cost of the birds that we actually want here. It’s funny how people everywhere drive to work or go to the park and never notice the obvious overpopulation of crows marauding everything that is weaker than they. Crows routinely spread garbage like the homeless, and have about the same repercussion. None.
Please, stop feeding crows, mind your waste products and vote to eradicate crow overpopulation .
Chris,
Others might not know that it is legal to shoot crows if . . .
Legal Status
The crow is classified as a predatory bird (WAC 232-12-004). A hunting license and an open season are required to shoot them. Under federal guidelines, individuals may kill crows without a hunting license or permit when they are found committing, or about to commit, depredations on agricultural crops, or when concentrated in such numbers and manner as to constitute a health hazard or other nuisance (16 U.S.C. Sections 703–712). The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is located at www. access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/.
I am offended by your comment “Crows routinely spread garbage like the homeless, and have about the same repercussion.” But, thanks for sharing, regardless.
Don
I’m also offended by the comment, in a number of ways. First and foremost, I’m sick and tired of people maligning the homeless among us. Far too many people have been convinced, usually by such ultra right wing talking heads as Michael Medved, that these people all choose to be homeless, because they simply don’t want to work. This is an outright lie. Many homeless are employed. They simply don’t earn enough to be able to afford housing. Housing prices, and rentals have skyrocketed.
People complain about homeless making a mess and dumping garbage. People have to live somewhere, and humans do generate garbage. What are the homeless supposed to do with it?
Some cities have public restrooms, and even restroom kiosks. Most businesses post signs that their restroom facilities are for paying customers only. People have to relieve themselves somewhere. So where are they going to do that, if there are no facilities available to them?
Perhaps Chris is unaware of how many people fortunate enough to have homes also engage in illegal dumping? Ask any maintenance company, who provides dayport and sweeping services for shopping centers and malls. They get old furniture and appliances dumped on their property all the time, and then are left with the expense of having it hauled off. I’ve often seen expensive newer model vehicles pull up to sidewalk garbage cans at shopping centers, and stuff the cans full of bags of their own household garbage because they’re two cheap to pay for garbage service.
The haves will always malign the have nots, I suppose. But I don’t, because I’ve been there.
J. Gordon,
Thanks for commenting . . . especially about the reference to the homeless by another reader. It’s good to see that others took offense as well. Thanks for sharing.
Don
Secondly, I dislike that this individual is shooting crows. How DARE a bird species, also native to the area, have the unmitigated gall to exist, eh? Do you also shoot at hawks and eagles, because they are also focused on song birds, and even small domesticated pets?
How dare a species become opportunistic feeders? Garbage cans are often over-filled and overflowing. But then again, human beings have also been opportunistic feeders, and those homeless people you seem to loathe so deeply will also seek anything edible they can find.
I know. I’ve been there, and done that. It isn’t pleasant. Naturally I’d have preferred a nice steak dinner, medium rare, nice baked potato with butter, salt and pepper, but it was what it was.
Shame on these nasty homeless humans, and nasty crows. How dare they try to exist and survive?
J. Gordon,
I too wondered about crows eating other birds, but I figure it’s a bird eat bird world out there. Everything depends on where you are on the food chain I guess. Thanks for sharing.
Don
I’m amazed at the number of people who view crows as pets. The crows are intelligent opportunists that will often aim to please the givers of a free meal, but they are basically predators of smaller birds. And there are way too many of them.
Shoot away, Chris. You are performing a public service.
He is committing a crime, if he isn’t licensed to do it. And hopefully he is caught.
J. Gordon,
Apparently it is legal, I looked it up, but I would guess local law enforcement officials might have other opinions. I also worry about the closeness of neighbors. A .22 isn’t overly powerful but can still kill or hurt any living animal it hits. I wouldn’t want to hear a rifle being shot nearby. Thanks for sharing.
Don
Kris is ignorant of the natural order of things. Hopefully she will educate herself.
Bill,
Thanks for commenting about Kris. I agree. Thanks for sharing.
Don
Chris,
You give new meaning to the descriptive Murder of Crows— and not a pleasant one. Put down your gun and learn something about your truly fascinating neighbors. Curious, never saw your eradication item on my ballot. Where do you vote?
Bill,
Thanks for commenting . . . again. I’m guessing, you like me enjoying reading the comments derived from articles. It’s the interaction that make writing fun. Chris has a right to shoot crows, but I do wonder where he is doing the shooting. Crows are usually around people. A .22 is small caliber but can travel fairly far.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Don
I agree with you. Crows are also a native species to this area, and have every right to exist. I’m also concerned about where he is, when he’s shooting crows, and hope he isn’t anywhere near other residences.
Crows aren’t the only critters out there killing and eating baby songbirds. I wonder if he’s also shooting racoons, squirrels, foxes, coyotes, owls, eagles, hawks, and household cats and dogs? Because they prey on baby birds as well. It’s a part of nature.
What some folks don’t realize, is that though crows may occasionally prey on smaller birds, they also hunt and eat small rodents like mice or rats, and serve as a sort of road cleanup crew, when unfortunate cats or squirrels are killed by cars.
Years ago, I lived in Santa Fe, NM out in the wide open Eldorado area. We always had a mouse problem in our garage so being anti-poison, I bought a buch of Victor Mouse Zappers to get rid of them. It would zap them dead instantaneously.
Each morning I would go out into the garage and when I saw a blinking green light, it told me there was a dead mouse to dispose of. I’d make my rounds inside the garage and collect all the full blinking mouse traps. To empty them, all you have to do with these is open the lid and flip the thing and the dead mouse would fly out.
I had a lot of crows and ravens out there in the summer time, though, at first there were only very few birds on our adobe wall alongside the driveway by the garage door. I’d throw out a mouse and one would hop down off the wall to the carcass and eyeball it sideways and then snap it up and take off with it. Then, I’d throw out the next one and the next one and the remaining birds would each take their turns until all the dead mice were gone. At first, there were more dead mice than birds so I think some came back for seconds, but the word got around within a very few days and each morning when I opened up the garage door, there would be a whole string of them all perched atop the adobe wall just waiting for breakfast. No one ever fought or argued over a dead mouse. They were all very polite about this process.
It was a riot. Those crows and ravens sure loved hanging out at my house! A cooked-to-perfection breakfast every morning (courtesy of Victor Mouse Zappers & the AA batteries that powered them)!
That comment about the homeless is not fair. Just remember it’s a thin line between having a home and being homeless. Tomorrow, that might be you homeless out there.
Njambi,
Thank you for commenting. I certainly agree with you on the comment from a reader about homelessness. I, too, found it offensive. Thanks for sharing.
Don
At 3am I was reading your story and it reminded me of the program I saw on the intelligence of crows. Maybe on Nat Geo? Fascinating.
I enjoyed reading your adventures with the crows and couldn’t stop laughing at “a gun” comment!
Hope to read more from you.
Marcy,
At 3am I was probably writing another article. Time is what we make it. Thanks for commenting. I think what most people recall is the UofW study on crows, which I really enjoyed, too. I’m glad you liked the gun comment. I love to switch perspectives and provide a high caliber laugh or two. Thanks for sharing.
Don
My daughter has poultry that every year the eagles try to eat. She’s very thankful when the ravens chase them away. She’s so thankful she leaves some of the chicken eggs out for them to eat.
Nancy,
Thanks for commenting. I really got a kick out of your daughter thanking the ravens by giving them chicken eggs. I guess in payback it all depends on your perspective . . . eggsactly. Thanks for sharing.
Don
The crows in my area are early warning systems for hawks and fox that threaten the songbirds. They warn the other birds and prey animals. Also they warn us so we can protect our chickens and small pets…
Elda,
Thanks for commenting. Every animal is somewhere in the food chain . . . just like us. I find it fascinating that we can take part at different levels or links.
Thanks for sharing.
Don
The crows around my area also give vocal warning if they see stray dogs roaming around, and from time to time, will make a ruckus when certain individuals are walking down the street. I’m not sure what those individuals did to earn that particular attention from the crows though.
They stopped sounding warnings whenever my cat emerged from the house though. He has never been interested in hunting birds, for whatever reason. He does love to go find a sunny spot on the porch and watch the busy birdie show, and the birds all seem to realize he isn’t going to suddenly charge and attack.
There is an instance in a Crow should back down. Chasing an Eagle can turn fatal for the Crow. I know of an instance of a Bald getting fed up with being chased. So it turned around and grabbed the Crow doing the chasing cutting in half. One less Crow.
Shira,
Thanks for commenting.
While golfing at Allenmore, I’ve seen crows harass a bald eagle overlooking Nalley Valley. The eagle moved at its own speed and didn’t flee . . . apparently knowing that as an eagle it was the top dog.
Thanks for sharing.
Don
Crows are smart. They can use tools, remember faces, and communicate verbally about things that they’ve seen, to the point that other crows will remember faces that they have never even seen themselves.
PBS did a great documentary about them in an episode of Nature.
https://www.pbs.org/video/nature-a-murder-of-crows/
Steve,
Thanks for the comments and the PBS link on crows. We had some many comments about crows from being neighbor hood watchdogs to being shot . . . and lots on stories in between. Thanks for sharing.
Don
Don,
CROWS LOVE PEANUTS!
My mum and I had a very sweet family of three crows that would eat all our meaty compost.
In the morning my mum would go out into the back garden smoke her cigarettes and play on her phone for the morning all the while throwing handfuls of peanuts out on the cement. The Blue Jays and crows would duke it out, with the crows obviously winning.
In the evenings they would be out there waiting for me to bring them moldering leftovers and scraps from dinner. Slowly but surely they would wait closer and closer to where I put out the food. They were quite sweet and very responsive. They also preferred the steak to chicken and like you said they hold a grudge. I want away for a month and it took them forever to forgive me, extra servings of steak??
Ana,
Thanks for commenting. You crows sound a lot like our deer family. We feed them apples and sometimes peanuts. I’m glad our crows are friendly I can just imagine them dropping cockle/snail shells or walnuts on our Volvo if there aren’t. I didn’t know crows preferred steak over chicken. Good think to know. Thanks for sharing.
Don
Crows are smart alright, but Bogie B. Bogarte, a Yellow Naped Amazon, is far smarter. Now retired, she was a former inteligence officer for the Central Inteligence Agency. Her covert surveillance was essential for the capture of Robert Hansen and Aldrich Ames. On a PC you can find her bio on FB by searching her name, then clicking on About, then click on Details About You. She is one rara avis.
Dr. Baer,
Thanks for commenting. I checked out Bogie B. Bogarte on Facebook. Hopefully, she now has 25 friends. Thanks for giving me the bird . . . story and sharing the details. I got a good laugh out of it.
Don
My daughter and her family are corvidae fans. We have seen crows and ravens feeding together- amazingly – in Kings County. It is easy to distinguish the crows (smaller) from the larger ravens. Bird watchers wear blue because birds don’t seem to see it. It works with ravens – & probably with crows, too. On the Upper Peninsula of Michigan I was nearly run over by a raven because I was driving a blue VW. Scary ! They are BIG !