cmt

If sparrows feed in groups, like finches, and I think they do, they could be particularly vulerable to epidemics.


I've also heard that crows exposed to humans when young can make human-like sounds. I can't verify this, but heard that a crow flew up to someone and said "hello." That is not entirely implausible, since the crow may have been raised or sheltered by people for some time and may have learned that this is something humans say when coming up to someone. Crows are capable of making many different sounds, and it is not impossible that they might actually use them to communicate with the animals that they know happen to use those sounds. (African gray parrots, e.g., do so in a much more complex way, actually forming sentences to communicate their thoughts, and not merely "parroting" human speech sounds.)

I'm so surprised people are posting on this topic. I really thought it would probably be ignored. This is so nice

cmt

P.S. If you post here re whether there is an increase or decrease or no change in the numbers of crows where you live, would you indicate WHERE you are, i.e., at least the country. Thanks.

I'm in NJ--central/western NJ-- and here the numbers seem to be decling, probably because of West Nile virus. I noticed a big change in the size of flocks at sunset between winter 2001-2002 and winter 2002-2003.

ira

Tulips wrote
>..please come and get the crows from my garden as they are digging up the lawn. I can't stand them; they're a real pest around here. <

You should be happy Tulips. The birds are digging up the grubs that attack your grass and shrubbery.

Tulips

I live in Belgium, and there is definitely no shortage of crows here. Ira; you are right about that, but there is nothing left of the lawn after the crows finish with it. If you have any solution to the problem, I'll be glad to hear it.

cigalechanta

We have plenty here but our real problem are the canada geese who are chewig up all the grass along the banks of the Charles River and in the Public Garden where they are polluting the swans home with their turds. Their droppings are slippery when you run or bike on them and sun bathers must be careful. I'm speaking of hundreds and hundreds of these birds. several film makers and news camera crews have been here to film this amazing sight.

BTilke

A lakeside park near where we spent the winter in Germany became the new home of two pair of Canadian geese (don't know where they came from, they just showed up one day and decided not to leave). The locals were oohing and ahing over them because they are very attractive if you're not used to them. But my husband and I thought uh oh, you people have no idea what you're in for!

jason888

"Quoth the raven: nevermore" = can crows say this?

Tulips: I'm with you - the crows drive away all the other birds, especially the song birds, in my yard. They crap all over my car. They eat everything out of my dog's dish.

Will one of you crow lovers please come and take these crows away?! I live in Northern California.

sheila

I posted a reply to this thsi afternoon...what happened to it?

Crow numbers in Britain are significantly increasing year on year. Whereas we've lost over half our house sparrows and they are now on the red data list.

For more details about these facts and other esoteric things about birds , check out www.bto.org

janeygirl

Seems to be plenty of crows here in southern Wisconsin. I have heard recently of some crows who tested positive for West Nile.

cmt

Here's a link to another article someone just gave me. http://www.psych.auckland.ac.nz/psyc...tion/Gavin.htm It's about crows making tools. I'm adding this to the list of articles posted in the 8th message of this thread Aug. 20, using the thread as a place to store the list. (Crows fly, crows live in Europe among other places--sort of European travel related)

cmt

The crows have apparently vanished from the city where I work in NJ, and I'm wondering whether they have also disappeared in other places. Let me know.

klondike

The corvids are in healthy numbers here in S.E. Alaska. Good thing, too, since they are an integral part of Tlingit mythology/culture. I know they are pesky, but their intelligence and antics are soooo amusing. And yes, they can mime other animals...they are really good at meowing.

cmt

I'm glad, Klondike. And I can really understand how such an animal would have a prominent place in traditional mythology.

Still no flocks out my office window in Trenton. I don't know whether West Nile killed them or whether they're no longer roosting in the cemetery and therefore no longer following the same route in the evening.

cmt

Will post something later--topping to remind myself.

PBProvence

There are several nests of crows in my unused barn roof here in Provence - I've been told by a neighbor that they are the harbingers of good fortune here.
Last spring, a young crow fell from the edge of the roof (and it's quite a drop - over fourteen metres), but was unharmed. Because I have cats, I called my vet who told me to bring it over. It was adopted within a day, and has become a pet to one of the nurses who works there. The crow sits on her shoulder and goes everywhere with her... coming when called by a whistle. It also "fetches" things and is generally entertaining to those of us waiting to see the vet.

Because we aren't far from the Camargue, where West Nile was first found on the continent and threatens the horse population, I keep an eye on "my" crows, but so far none seem to have died, which is a sign that the West Nile virus is in the area.

Patricia

platzman

I had to eat crow following yesterday's Florida-Florida St game.
It doesn't taste too bad as long as you cook it thoroughly and drench it in barbecue sauce.

PatrickLondon

Certainly not in London, quite the other way around. There has been a noticeable increase in the numbers of crows and magpies, and a huge drop in the numbers of humble London sparrows (though I think the scientific consensus is that the two aren't connected).

Charley1965

I agree with Patrick, there are definitely more Crows and Magpies in London than there's ever been. I work in the City of London and there are Crows and Magpies always flying around outside. Infact a Magpie landed on the outside window ledge a couple of weeks ago and looked into the office!

cmt

Here's a fascinating article about bird intelligence that anyone who opened this thread might find worth reading. It's about bird intelligence. It was in the Tuesday science section of the New York Times on Feb. 1, 2005, so it will no longer be accessible for free after seven days from that date, I think. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/01/sc...pagewanted=all


(I forgot what I was going to post on this thread in November, but I'm sure I'll think of something one of these days.)

TexasAggie

Great post!
Cigale - I know EXACTLY what you mean about Canadian Geese. My parking lot for my job is very near a small lake where quite literally hundreds of Canadian geese live from October - April. They like to sit on the hoods of the cars because the cars are warm (even if it is cold outside, the sun beating down on the metal warms it). They scratch the paint and leave excrement all over your car (also damaging to the paint). And the smell... ugh!

They are beautiful birds and I don't mind sharing the lake with them, but I do get tired of sharing my car with them!