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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

#31

Post by drop_star »

squidbeak wrote: post #20
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.

How dare their need to feed spoil a lawn's appearance...

Well its a sod farmer so its his livelyhood. Im pretty sure if crows were eating your pay cheque or the food out your kids mouth youd shoot them too

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

#32

Post by oasisbob »

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.

Extreme example, but it's harsh, noisy and they'll sometimes aggressively swoop down at you.

https://youtu.be/RuOVY4r9ipg

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

#33

Post by mikestew »

I don't know the answer, generally speaking, but we've got a pair that pop onto the back fence every morning waiting for their peanuts. I think they're multigenerational, as I have reasons to suspect that the "original" Mr. Peanut has passed on. Anyway, the bold one will come sit with me in the front yard. When I walk the dog, they'll follow me for a bit, flying a few feet off the ground right in front of me, I assume to make their presence known and get a piece of dog biscuit (which I oblige). They have never gotten obnoxious about it by crowing at me, just silently hanging around: "if you could spare a bit of dog food, kind sir..."

Friends? It's probably transactional from the crow's POV, but OTOH they hang out on the fence and just sit sometimes even if there are peanuts on the ground. I enjoy seeing them, though. I will say, though, that after many pounds of peanuts not a single one of the little bastards has ever brought me a present, as is advertised. :-)

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

#34

Post by WalterBright »

mikestew wrote: post #25
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...

Nothing grows in my lawn. Everything grows like mad in the non-lawn areas.

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

#35

Post by legastenigga »

kylecazar wrote: post #18
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.

They can pass grudges against individuals down to their offspring. Could be looking at generational animosity if you really displease them.

[dead]

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

#36

Post by mlmonkey »

I like the fact that they are so ... observant. A specific crow (I recognize him due to the missing feathers around his collar) will spend a while sitting on a tree outside my window, observing me for no reason. I do feed them generally by leaving peanuts in a specific area in the backyard early in the morning, and I'm sure this one partakes in the feast; but I have never rewarded his presence in any form, and yet there he is, in the middle of the day, just hanging out on the branch of the leafless tree, just sitting there, observing me. If I turn around and make eye contact, he often flies away. But I can see him in the reflection on my ipad's screen, and if I don't turn around and make eye contact, he will stay there for a while. It is fun interacting with "smart" creatures who have their own personalities and active social lives.

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

#37

Post by AngryData »

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.

If grubs are numerous enough for crows or moles or anything else to invade your lawn, the grubs themselves would have killed your lawn.

Ive seen it so many times on lawns "Oh no the moles are killing my yard, what do I do?" "Buy grub control" "I bought mole pesticide and traps instead because I don't care about grubs, what are these giant dead spots in my yard now?" "Grubs, because you killed the only thing suppressing the grubs."

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

#38

Post by sethev »

Crows are fascinating creatures. My wife read that they will chase hawks and eagles away, so she started putting food out for the crows near the tree where they gather (we have chickens and ducks that we don't want the hawks near).

Now they bring trinkets as gifts and leave them near the tree. We also had a crow in the past that would make barking noises when it saw our dogs and freak them out. I'm convinced it was messing with them.

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

#39

Post by roughly »

lelandfe wrote: post #13
roughly wrote: post #7

A friend is someone you’ll spend time around given other options. If you’ve spent any time getting to know crows (or jays, or any other corvids), it’s quite obvious this is the case. I had a scrub jay who’d perch on my foot while I read in the morning. I considered him a friend, and by that standard, he me.

How folksy. Give that jay a hat and we got a Disney movie cooking.

Tbh the jay would be more likely to eat the hat than wear it. He also was extremely clear that the bounds of our friendship did not include me touching him at all, but he’d usually just peck my finger, not actually fly away.

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

#40

Post by sejje »

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.

My uncle had a bunch robbing his stationary (dog) feeder. So he shot one and hung it above the feeder.

It solved the problem.

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