There's a green just in front of my house and part of it has some extremely tall Scots pines that has been a rookery for all the 37 years I've lived here. There is a LOT of noise in the Spring and they're often pursuing gulls and other birds that come into 'their' area.
I see them on the fields at the end of my road where I walk with my dog and there's often about 6 poking twigs into the grass - I'm guessing it's to attract worms maybe.
I frequently see 2 or 3 of them on a big dead branch laying in the hedgerow on the fields. Over the last few years they've stripped most of the bark - it's fascinating to watch how carefully they do it. I only see them doing it in the Spring, so I guess they use it for nest material.
Soon after I brush my dog they appear on the lawn picking up all the fur I leave for them - now and then a blue tit gets a look in and leaves with a huge moustache Fascinating and clever birds!
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I've been feeding my local crows this winter, and I've done that pretty much everywhere I've lived. I call them my low-rent alarm system. Any time a predator comes near the yard, they set up a huge fuss. Predators include birds, dogs, wildlife, and humans who don't belong. Over winter there were just two crows, but now they've grown to a murder of 3. Yesterday two of them were flying past my windows all day with beaks full of waste hay from the mule paddock. They're nesting in a massive white pine behind the house. They've been very vocal lately and I'd say it's territorial - they've fussed over the fox, the raven, another murder of crows, the vultures, and a hawk pair that has been nesting here for years.
The other morning a mouse had drowned in the mule trough and I tossed it out on the snow figuring the fox would come grab it, but it was the crows who discovered it first and flew off with it.
New England, USA
Metacomet soil with hints of Woodbridge and Pillsbury
Hey there! It sounds like you've got a crow that won't quit cawing. I've had my fair share of experiences with these birds, so I'll give you my two cents.
First off, it's possible that the crow is just trying to establish territory or attract a mate, as mentioned. They're pretty vocal creatures and they like to make themselves known.
But, if it's been going on for a week and the crow isn't being aggressive, it could be something else entirely. Maybe it's just enjoying the view from its perches and letting everyone know about it!
If you're really curious, you could try observing the crow from a distance to see if it's interacting with any other birds or animals in the area. That might give you a clue as to what's going on.
Either way, it's always fascinating to watch these intelligent creatures in action. Who knows, maybe the crow is just trying to entertain us humans!
Can’t believe people feed crows. Have watched them Bully a heron and seen them peck holes in One of my bird boxes, and eat the young, they are clearly not a friend of songbirds. Should be discouraged from gardens!
All part of the balance of nature. Herons will eat baby crows … crows feed their young on other nestlings; song birds feed their young on the young of gorgeous moths and butterflies.
If we want one we have to have enough of the other … we can’t pick and choose just the ones we like. Nature doesn’t work like that.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I watched a pair making a next in next door’s chimney a few weeks back. They kept going in one by one with twigs and grass while the other kept watch. Every now and then they would both stand outside the chimney rubbing each other’s necks. Very cute.
They do mob the Red Kites but, as others have said, it’s to protect their patch and young who should be along soon.
They don’t scare off the smallest birds from my feeders (the pigeons try to) so they’re alright with me.
All part of the balance of nature. Herons will eat baby crows … crows feed their young on other nestlings; song birds feed their young on the young of gorgeous moths and butterflies.
If we want one we have to have enough of the other … we can’t pick and choose just the ones we like. Nature doesn’t work like that.
I appreciate that, but the difference is That Garden songbird populations are in a big decline, but Crows are not. THere are plenty of crows in the UK.
Plus cats add to the problem as we know, by eating the small birds but not going near scary crows! No balance there.
We regularly have Jackdaws, Magpies and Crows visiting our garden and plenty of songbirds too.
Most of the songbirds seem to take little notice of the bigger birds most of the time. Yesterday we were sat in the garden and one of our crows was crunching water snails at one end of the pond and a couple of goldfinches were bathing at the other end about 3m away
If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
Posts
There is a LOT of noise in the Spring and they're often pursuing gulls and other birds that come into 'their' area.
I see them on the fields at the end of my road where I walk with my dog and there's often about 6 poking twigs into the grass - I'm guessing it's to attract worms maybe.
I frequently see 2 or 3 of them on a big dead branch laying in the hedgerow on the fields. Over the last few years they've stripped most of the bark - it's fascinating to watch how carefully they do it.
I only see them doing it in the Spring, so I guess they use it for nest material.
Soon after I brush my dog they appear on the lawn picking up all the fur I leave for them - now and then a blue tit gets a look in and leaves with a huge moustache
Fascinating and clever birds!
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Hey there! It sounds like you've got a crow that won't quit cawing. I've had my fair share of experiences with these birds, so I'll give you my two cents.
First off, it's possible that the crow is just trying to establish territory or attract a mate, as mentioned. They're pretty vocal creatures and they like to make themselves known.
But, if it's been going on for a week and the crow isn't being aggressive, it could be something else entirely. Maybe it's just enjoying the view from its perches and letting everyone know about it!
If you're really curious, you could try observing the crow from a distance to see if it's interacting with any other birds or animals in the area. That might give you a clue as to what's going on.
Either way, it's always fascinating to watch these intelligent creatures in action. Who knows, maybe the crow is just trying to entertain us humans!
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham