The dead crow incident

Written by Jack Sanders
Friday, 12 September 2008 08:34

Last week’s column described two unusual cases of intelligence in crows, one dealing with the use of weapons and the other, with face recognition.

The report of the University of Washington professor’s experiments with crows’ recognizing masks worn by people who had captured and banded the birds brought back memories of an incident many years ago.

At the university, campus crows and even their descendants a couple of years later would squawk at anyone wearing a “caveman” mask, which had been worn by the banders. They believed the face represented danger. In our yard, a similar experience occurred.

Many years ago, we experimented with regularly feeding crows and reached the point where the local family flock would show up on schedule each morning, awaiting its handout. I even used crow calls, commercially available in several models, to attract them at other times of the day when I had some scraps available for them.

Though they are very wary birds, I was eventually able to win the confidence of a couple of them, enough so that I could sit on the back steps and toss old crackers or pieces of stale bread on the nearby lawn, and have them approach within three or four feet. (I have gotten chickadees and titmice to eat out of my hand, but a crow is too smart for risk that kind of close contact with a human!)

This went on for number of years, probably over more than one generation of the family. Clearly, some among this group had become accustomed to me and trusted me more than they would other humans.

Then one day, a neighbor noticed a crow wandering slowly around her yard, looking dazed and seemingly unable to fly. Something was obviously wrong with it. Since we were the folks with the noisy crow feedings, she called us and asked that we come see about this ill crow.

Sally checked with a veterinarian who said he would look at the bird. We both went out into the yard and she captured it, gently wrapping it in a towel. The ailing crow put up no protest.

Meanwhile, the other members of the family group were watching the goings on. I think they watched quietly; I don’t remember them squawking at us.

Alas, as we were driving the crow to the vet’s office, Sally holding it in her lap, the bird died of whatever disease it had. (This was long before West Nile virus began killing the local crows.)

For us, the experience was sad. For the crow clan, it was traumatic. To them, we had captured one of their members and, for all they knew, eaten it.

The reaction among the remaining crows was immediate: They shunned us. Never again would any of them walk up to the back porch to take a hand-out. They’ve never been “friendly” since.

Yes, they continue to eat our scraps, but they always remain in the trees until we are out of sight. If they are on the ground and we even move in front of a window, they’ll fly off.

Coming Up

HawkWatch Weekend Festival, bird-themed workshops, walks, games, shows, raptor counting, ‘green’ vendors, and much more, Sept. 13 and 14, Audubon Greenwich and Quaker Ridge Bird Club, 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich, 203-869-5272 x239.

Live raptor presentation by Audubon Sharon, Thursday, Sept. 18, 7 p.m., Western Connecticut Bird Club, Southbury Public Library, 100 Poverty Road, 203-426-3901

Fall Bird Migrants, hike, Saturday, Sept. 27, 7 to 8:45 a.m., Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich, 203-869-5272 RSVP to store at x221.

Raptor ID Made Easy, with Ken Mirman, Saturday, Sept. 27, 11 to noon, free, Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich, 203-869-5272 RSVP to store at x221.

Hook Mountain Hawk Watch, across the Hudson, includes half-mile hike, Saturday, Oct. 18, 9 to 2:30. Bring lunch, water bottle, hiking shoes, hat, and binoculars, Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich, Ted 203-869-5272, x230 to register.

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, trip, Saturday, Nov. 1, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich, Ted 203-869-5272, x230 to register.

Winter Birds and Project Feederwatch, how your family can be “citizen scientists” to help count winter birds at bird feeders in the backyard, Saturday, Nov. 8, 1:30 to 3 p.m., Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, 203-869-5272 RSVP to store at x221.

Bird Watching Cruises on Long Island Sound and Norwalk Harbor, with Larry Flynn, wildlife conservationist, Saturdays from 7:30 to 10:30, aboard 40 passenger ferry, $20, Norwalk Seaport Association, from Seaport dock, Water Street, 203-838-9444, www.seaport.org.

Bird walks with Luke Tiller, mostly Saturdays at 8 a.m., $10 each; to register, www. sunrisebirding. com/ walks.htm; 203-981-9924, luke.tiller @ gmail.com.

First Sundays, birding at Greenwich Point with Meredith Sampson of Wild Wings, and other guides, meet at the second concession stand, 203-637-9822.