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Photographer captures 'odd but exciting' crow behaviour known as anting

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Re: Photographer captures 'odd but exciting' crow behaviour known as anting

#41

Post by every »

birdbrain wrote: post #37
rantwasp wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

i got to witness a murder of crow harassing 2 bald eagles until the eagles just gave up and left. we’re not even talking a lot. There were maybe 6-7 crows. The theory I heard is the bald eagle(s) could easily take them on but they risk injury and the crows will try to mess them up. So the eagles just don’t risk it and move on + hunt things that don’t fight back (like rabbits). also, I can swear that crows taunt my do…

The phenomenon of multiple prey animals swarming larger predators to drive them off is known as mobbing.[0] Crows seem to do it quite readily. Very cool that you got to see it! [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobbing_(animal_behavior)

I got to watch it in detail recently at our apartments. Starlings mobbed a hawk and drove it away several times...

Re: Photographer captures 'odd but exciting' crow behaviour known as anting

#42

Post by moosebear847 »

stopping wrote: post #31

Pre-WFH, there were several groups of crows near my office covering distinct territories around my building. I made a habit of feeding and interacting with a few of these groups, every day for several months. Here are my experiences: * I did indeed see a crow "anting" one time, and was initially as bewildered as the photographer in TFA. Surprisingly I was able to get much closer to the bird than they normally allow,…

I really enjoyed this!

Re: Photographer captures 'odd but exciting' crow behaviour known as anting

#43

Post by tomjakubowski »

thaumasiotes wrote: post #26
Rendello wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I laughed at the fictional dentist supposedly named "Crentist" in the Office, then I remembered the largest scam in recent history was by Bernie Madoff.

> then I remembered the largest scam in recent history was by Bernie Madoff. I don't get it?

Bernie Madoff with all their money.

Re: Photographer captures 'odd but exciting' crow behaviour known as anting

#44

Post by IncRnd »

h0l0cube wrote: post #13
IncRnd wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This doesn't seem realistic. Men, most who don't wear cosmetics, don't spontaneously stick their faces against ant hills. The women who don't wear cosmetics, either, don't seem to cover their faces in ants.

Crows (and other animals) are known to learn behaviors from each other, it doesn't need to be genetically encoded

I was answering this comment, "Before cosmetics were available, some people stuck their face to an ants nest, I think the theory was that that could help peeling dead skin," which was not about crow's behaviour - either by nurture or nature.

I can't believe that people are actually taking that comment from the parent seriously. All I can say is that people tend to believe whatever they read.

Re: Photographer captures 'odd but exciting' crow behaviour known as anting

#45

Post by tomcam »

Razengan wrote: post #40
belter wrote: post #11

Crows actions are on par or exceed Octopus level of smartness "Smart Crow uses cars to crack nuts in Akita, Japan" https://youtu.be/NenEdSuL7QU "Are Crows the Ultimate Problem Solvers?" https://youtu.be/cbSu2PXOTOc

Imagine if they started crossbreeding

Tara Reid anxiously awaits your octocrow script

Re: Photographer captures 'odd but exciting' crow behaviour known as anting

#46

Post by amanaplanacanal »

YZF wrote: post #36
rantwasp wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

i got to witness a murder of crow harassing 2 bald eagles until the eagles just gave up and left. we’re not even talking a lot. There were maybe 6-7 crows. The theory I heard is the bald eagle(s) could easily take them on but they risk injury and the crows will try to mess them up. So the eagles just don’t risk it and move on + hunt things that don’t fight back (like rabbits). also, I can swear that crows taunt my do…

Around here (BC, Canada) you'll see a single crow chasing away a bald eagle. They get very aggressive when they're protecting their nests.

I’m south of you in Oregon, and I’ve seen a single crow chase away a red tailed Hawk. It’s definitely a strange sight.

Re: Photographer captures 'odd but exciting' crow behaviour known as anting

#47

Post by smokelegend »

dwighttk wrote: post #28
Rendello wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I laughed at the fictional dentist supposedly named "Crentist" in the Office, then I remembered the largest scam in recent history was by Bernie Madoff.

No kidding a CPA in my hometown went to prison for fraud named… Cheatham

He must have been affiliated with the brokerage firm Duewee, Cheatem & Howe...

Took a series 7 course [stockbroker license] few years back, I remember that was the teachers goto example firm.

Greico...John Thomas... fun times, then I realized I have a soul that prevents me from scamming people out of their last cent just to make a payment on a Benz or pay for weekly supply of hookers and cocaine...

Only way to win the game, is not to play.

Re: Photographer captures 'odd but exciting' crow behaviour known as anting

#49

Post by everly »

lioeters wrote: post #2

> [A]nting is..where birds rub insects, usually ants, on their feathers and skin. > Some birds will sit still on an anthill and patiently allow the creatures to crawl freely through their feathers. At other times they have been seen to pick the ants up with their beaks and rub themselves with the tiny insects. > Sensing a threat, the ants shoot a spray of formic acid from their abdomens or anal glands which gets abso…

I’m inclined to think it’s akin to recreational drug usage in humans.

Crows are supposedly more intelligent/aware than other animals, and with awareness comes existential dread or whatever you want to call it.

Lots of humans use drugs to alleviate this and I think it’s plausible that crows do something similar. Hopefully I’m wrong and it’s a more uplifting reason.

Re: Photographer captures 'odd but exciting' crow behaviour known as anting

#50

Post by speakspokespok »

TFA mentions anting "is a rare occurrence". While I didn't know what the birds were doing until now this happen semi-regularly on my neighbor's front lawn just across the street. There are two specific spots they like. I've always assumed they were sunbathing or too hot.
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