I haven't posted a #CrowUpdate in a while, not because nothing was happening, but because I didn't take any good pictures in a while. But I need to update you a bit of the latest developments.
It may be a bit long. I'll also recap a few things for the new followers coming from my other account and who may be interested.
Let's start with the basics: three years ago, I befriended two #crows (a couple) who live in the park next door (this is not them on the picture)
(1/? ⤵️ )
The latest news.
Let's start with the not-great but not unexpected news. As I suspected, Mr Crow has stopped roosting.
For people not familiar with #crows, they have territories, but in autumn and winter, they gather by the thousands downtown (and on top of hills) to socialize with their friends and families (this is fact, look it up if you don't trust me). However, for the past two years, Mr Crow has had a history of damaged wing feathers that prevent him from flying properly at times. ⤵️
I suspected it, simply because I've seen more damaged feathers than usual lately, as well as a crow cawing as soon as the first lights of dawn show up and before the other crows have returned from their roosting location. And tonight, I got home at dusk and while, there were crows all over the sky flying to bed, Mr Crow was simply perched on his pole. Cawing a little and waiting a lot. I stayed in the park, looking at him for some time, but he didn't move ⤵️
He didn't come to get peanuts, but this is normal. First, they don't usually eat in the evening, and it was also get too dark for his taste (crows have very poor night vision if any). The cute and a bit sad part is that soon my wife returned from work, I chatted with her, came inside for a second, and when I checked on him again, he was gone, as if he was just staying for me earlier. I'm curious about where he sleeps, but I don't know. I checked his summer sleeping tree, but he wasn't there. ⤵️
So, yeah, Mr Crow has some damaged feathers, like every winter for the past two years. He still can fly (so not as bad as two years ago), but it's not always easy and not for long distances.
I never know why his feathers are so fragile, especially compared to Ms Crow whose feathers are completely fine. Is it age? Probably a little. Is it genetics? No idea. Is it the fights? Most likely. Lately there has been trouble with the "south crows." Another small recap: ⤵️
Mr and Ms Crow are carrion crows (Corvus corone), but the crows in the territory south of them are large-billed crows (Corvus macrorhynchos) and... they're not friends to say the least. There are regularly skirmishes or worse. And lately because my silly neighbor thought it was a good idea to leave food in the park, the "south crows" noticed and invaded the park daily, creating trouble.
The good news: I spoke with her recently and she has listened to me and has stopped leaving food. ⤵️
Last week I even noticed the "south crows" arriving circling above the park and leaving disappointed. Are they responsible for Mr Crow's injuries? Maybe maybe not. There are other suspects. The black kites. Black kites and crows have a strange relationship. Sometimes (late winter, early autumn) they mostly ignore each other, sometimes (spring, early summer) crows attack the kites to protect their territory and their babies, but in winter, when it's cold and windy (crows hate windy) ⤵️
It's the black kites messing with the crows as much as they can. I don't think the black kites see crows as potential preys (but I can imagine them being opportunistic about it), however, last week I barely saw the crows because it was quite windy and the black kites took control of the neighborhood, even flying much lower than usual, and Friday morning, wondering if the #crows were around, I went to the park and even before getting there, I saw a kite falling on a black shape leaving a tree! ⤵️
Basically, the crows were hiding in trees (not usual in the morning, but more usual when it's very windy) and a kite attacked one of them (I couldn't tell who) as soon as they tried to leave the tree. No contact was made between the two birds, but it was a close call. I suspect that Mr Crow was also injured this way in the past.
Apart from that, not much. Ms Crow is fine and always comes and begs for peanuts when she sees me. (this is her on the neighbor's antenna here) ⤵️
I'll end today's already too long #CrowUpdate with an anecdote from last night that is also a first. I got home shortly before dusk. One crow (I couldn't tell if it was Mr or Ms) was standing on the usual pole (see above) but I heard more cawing and saw not one but two crows on the next pole. However, when other crows do that, intimidation happens between "my" crows and the invaders (it mostly consists in raising the feathers on their head) and usually the invaders leave. Yesterday? ⤵️
No intimidation at all, all three crows were pretty chill, and it's "my" crow who left first (I lost he/she behind a house). I looked, intrigued, at the two remaining crows. And they felt intimidated by me, and flew a block away. I followed them, and they flew away again and I lost them.
I wonder who they were. They seemed a bit thinner than a regular adult carrion crow. I'm tempted to think they're young crows, but in winter even young crows should be adult size. And I'm starting to wonder ⤵️
