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Top-level
 Thank you all so much for the enthusiasm and support and for the crow stories you've shared. If I haven't had a chance to respond yet, I apologize. There's a quite curious coda to this entire thread that I'm eager to share with you. But first, a couple of things that I forgot to mention in the previous thread that you may useful in befriending crows. 40 comments
@marzours @ct_bergstrom Iāve been feeding fifty ravens peanuts every morning for about a year. The advice also holds true for ravens, and yes, they are definitely spooked by eye contact. Second, baby crows often leave the nest a couple of days before they can fly. This strikes me as an exceptionally bad idea, but it's what they do. During that first week or two out of the nest, all bets are off. Crow parents are a giant bundle of stress hormones. Crows you don't know will attack; even your best crow friends may be untrustworthy. Just imagine what they are going through, give them time, and when the fledglings are flying readily they'll be back to their old selves. And this brings me to today's curious coda. Last week, we lost a silver ring around the house or yard. As I mentioned earlier, my crows don't tend to bring gifts. But this morning as I went out to give them their snack, there was the ring, plain as day, right in the spot where I feed them. Now it's entirely possible that we lost it there and didn't notice for a few days. But it seems odd given how many times I've passed that spot since. I have my guesses, but I'll let you make up your mind. @ct_bergstrom I want to write a childrenās book about this! So perfect! ššš  @ct_bergstrom Thatās too good of a story *not* to be true. @ct_bergstrom One of them stole it without telling the others. But the others figured out what was up when you didnāt find it. Then they had one of those āWhoever it was, just give it back and thatās the end of itā discussions. That is what weāre all thinking, right? @Sensational_Gus I absolutely love this explanation. I can just imagine the council of crows leading up to this decision. @Sensational_Gus @ct_bergstrom Thatās the way I heard it š @Sensational_Gus @ct_bergstrom I'm thinking something far more convoluted @Sensational_Gus @ct_bergstrom To me, it's them saying, "hey you lost this btw thx for the peanuts" @Sensational_Gus @ct_bergstrom This is what must have happened š A wonderful idea, thank you for sharing! @ct_bergstrom have you ever befriended a raven? We mostly have ravens in our neighborhood, so far as I know the locals. Also my daughters would like to know how the crows showed you their babies. There were logistical questions raised when I related that part of your story over dinner this evening.  @ct_bergstrom They usually live in family groups, no? So they probably are used to giving things to each other. :) @ct_bergstrom dude ācurious coda?ā āSilver liningā was right there. Had a nice ring to it and everything. @ct_bergstrom So today walking the dogs, my wife and I came upon a pair of crows looking for worms in a lawn next to a church parking lot by our house. So I cheerfully greeted them, āHi guys howās it going?ā They looked at us. I handed my dogās leash to my wife and walked over to the asphalt. One flew up onto a light pole and the other to a tree. I threw some kibble on the pavement and walked away back to my wife. Both crows swooped down and gobbled up the kibble! Success! š @ct_bergstrom So then my wife took her turn. Again success! We then resumed our walk. The crows observed us for a few seconds, from a telephone wire, and then headed off to the neighborhood across the road. So far so good! šš»  @ct_bergstrom My main question is: how do you š“šµš°š± befriending crows? There are huge flocks of them in the general area, and that's more corvid love than I think I'm up for! š @ct_bergstrom I have made friends with 4-5 crows at my home. One in particular lands on the porch and peers through the window to see if Iām in the kitchen to bring out my offering of crushed walnuts. In Australia, we have magpies, AKA Black & White murder birds. Sensible people pay them protection so that, during the mating season, they don't get swooped by hostile males protecting their nests from potential predators. Once had a group of five female magpies "trained" to protect me from possibly murderous rivals from outside their territory. Oh yes - we do have ravens as well. But the black & white murder birds are much more common. We have magpies where I live in Sydney. For the past 2-3 years 2 have stayed in our garden during nesting season. This year 8 came to visit for a few weeks outside nesting season. Some were younger and especially curious. We slowly ventured out so they'd get used to us and fed them berries. It was incredibly exciting making friends with these smart birds - when they return next year I'll be ready to interact more with them. @ct_bergstrom This was an amazing read. During my research about what science know about consciousness, I stumbled on crows and magpies as challengers to the idea that only humans possess consciousness (very common, since the scientific method as such forces every other species to prove their consciousness, whereas humans are given the benefit of the doubt). For me, the question was answered when I learned that they mourn dead individuals, and can distinguish a dead crow from another dead bird. @ct_bergstrom we just moved to a house in a very rural area, and I've always wanted to befriend a crow (or magpie) and I'm pretty sure we have both here. Your tips will come in handy, thank you for this thread! @kazarnowicz @ct_bergstrom I especially like Craig Childs writing on this concerning the culture of Ravens in a canyon in Utah. How the Ravens in this remote place have a long-standing culture. @Claireglide I haven't heard of that, but I'll be sure to look it up. Sounds right up my alley! Thank you for the tip! @ct_bergstrom this photo is so beautifulā¦ I was fortunate enough to be gifted Masahisa Fukase Ravens on Christmas, but I'd definitively get Carl T. Bergstrom version anytime š   Lots of crows around our place this summer. Next year, if they're back I'll give this a try. Thanks for posting! @ct_bergstrom Thanks for this (and the whole thread). There are quite a few crows in my neighborhood. I want to befriend them, but without much success yet (I haven't been consistent), but the biggest mistake I make is to look at them too much probably. I talk to them too, and I know they're intrigued (other humans in the neighborhood don't) but they're still scared of me. "Feed regularly without staring at them." noted. |
Gregory's Server
The first is key: crows are acutely aware of human gaze. They watch you, know which direction you are looking, and use this to predict your behavior.
As you are getting to them, don't watch them or the food you've offered. Drop or place a peanut and then walk on like Lot fleeing the doomed city of Sodom, never looking back. This reassures them that it's not a trap and that you don't mean them harm.
Later, when they have become more comfortable with you, you can interact more directly.