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An investigation into the state of corvid–human relations

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Re: An investigation into the state of corvid–human relations

#21

Post by b112 »

drop_star wrote: post #19

We have problems here with crows destroying lawns to dig up grubs. A local sod farmer told me they shoot one and leave it dead in the field. All the other crows show up for a crow funeral and when they leave they dont come back. They remember the crow that died there and treat the area as dangerous.

While there are times crows need to be dealt with (see the horrors of Chatham, Ont + crows), those grubs eat the roots of grasses.

So you can let the crows have your grubs, or the grubs your grass.

Re: An investigation into the state of corvid–human relations

#22

Post by tescreal »

smurda wrote: post #15

Crows can remember a dangerous person and tell their friends about it. From "Social learning spreads knowledge about dangerous humans among American crows" ( https://faculty.washington.edu/wirsinga/Cornell2011.pdf ) We exposed wild crows to a novel ‘dangerous face’ by wearing a unique mask as we trapped, banded and released 7 –15 birds at five study sites near Seattle, WA, USA. An immediate scolding response to the d…

What does scolding look like in crows? Sincere question.

Re: An investigation into the state of corvid–human relations

#23

Post by noelwelsh »

tescreal wrote: post #22
smurda wrote: post #15

Crows can remember a dangerous person and tell their friends about it. From "Social learning spreads knowledge about dangerous humans among American crows" ( https://faculty.washington.edu/wirsinga/Cornell2011.pdf ) We exposed wild crows to a novel ‘dangerous face’ by wearing a unique mask as we trapped, banded and released 7 –15 birds at five study sites near Seattle, WA, USA. An immediate scolding response to the d…

What does scolding look like in crows? Sincere question.

Probably sounds like more than looks like. If it's what my cat gets, it's crows posting up on trees and roofs and talking shit at you.

Re: An investigation into the state of corvid–human relations

#24

Post by tescreal »

noelwelsh wrote: post #23
tescreal wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What does scolding look like in crows? Sincere question.

Probably sounds like more than looks like. If it's what my cat gets, it's crows posting up on trees and roofs and talking shit at you.

Usually I find them demanding me give them food. Shame on me for forgetting snacks!

Re: An investigation into the state of corvid–human relations

#25

Post by mikestew »

drop_star wrote: post #19

We have problems here with crows destroying lawns to dig up grubs. A local sod farmer told me they shoot one and leave it dead in the field. All the other crows show up for a crow funeral and when they leave they dont come back. They remember the crow that died there and treat the area as dangerous.

We have problems here with crows destroying lawns to dig up grubs.

If you're in the PNW, those invasive grubs were going to destroy your lawn anyway.

More information: https://invasivespecies.wa.gov/priorityspecies/european-chaf...

Re: An investigation into the state of corvid–human relations

#26

Post by tyjen »

A murder of crows lives about 200 m away and whenever a predatory bird enters their perimeter, they swarm it until vacates the area. Everything from osprey, hawks, vultures, and eagles, they leave Great Blue Herons alone though.

I don't want to go out of my way to befriend them, because they may harass people who are not me on the property.

Re: An investigation into the state of corvid–human relations

#27

Post by Lerc »

We have quite a few birds around our house and it has been quite gratifying to see how much they accept your presence after a while. While making coffee yesterday morning, there were three tauhau hopping around in the tree outside the window, less than a meter away, unconcerned. If I go outside they'll keep to about 2 meters. When I'm working in the garage, a piwakawaka often comes in to watch me. If I'm digging in the garden there are a few (I'm going to guess starlings) that watch me digging in the garden close enough I'm surprised they don't land on me. As soon as I stop digging, they're in the dirt rummaging for what I might have turned up. Collectively they have all decided that I'm not out to get them so just go about their business. Except for the piwakawaka, which does seem to go out of its way to just watch me make things.

It possibly helps that I have a dog that will not tolerate a cat on the property and seems to believe that birds don't exist.

Re: An investigation into the state of corvid–human relations

#28

Post by forbiddenvoid »

Avicebron wrote: post #4

They are, until a murder takes up residency in a tree outside your apartment in Emeryvile. Then they are cool roommates you have to get away from else you lose your sanity.

The park across from our apartment in Cupertino was the morning gathering point for every crow in the Bay Area. They showed up at about 3:30-4:00a every day. It was as loud and obnoxious as you might otherwise imagine.

Now, in Seattle, we just have a nice family of three crows that hang out on our balcony on a daily basis. I much prefer this arrangement.

Re: An investigation into the state of corvid–human relations

#29

Post by the_af »

petcat wrote: post #6

The crows around my house are generally cool unless I do something they don't like and then they'll remember my face for all of eternity and mob me whenever I am outside.

Out of curiosity, what can you do to upset a crow so much? Shoo them?

(Where I live there are no crows, please excuse my ignorance. Only common pigeons, as filthy as they are dumb, and they don't seem to hold a grudge, or think much of humans... or at all).

Re: An investigation into the state of corvid–human relations

#30

Post by the_af »

vjvjvjvjghv wrote: post #16
SamuraiLion wrote: post #3

I mean; they cause no harm unless you are a farmer or something, do they?

They poop on people they don't like. I used to work at an office where you had to walk under some trees from the parking lot to the entrance. There was one guy that got pooped on at least once a week. Then he used an umbrella which they pooped on too. No idea what he had done to them but they clearly didn't like him :-) Another thing I saw at a park: The crows surrounded a swan. One would pick at the swan's butt. Whe…

> They poop on people they don't like

That's not so bad! That alone makes them better than pigeons, which simply poop on everything (sidewalks, cars, people, other pigeons) regardless of any personal animosity or lack thereof.

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