:usaflag: Playful Crow

[Cupajo]

As I sat sipping my coffee this dreary overcast morning I spotted a crow playfully teasing a seagull maybe twice its size. The little devil would edge into the gull's "space" and the gull would dart after it and it would back away just far enough for the gull to stop its pursuit. This went on for several minutes before I decided to try to capture the action.

Unfortunately they were so fast I couldn't catch them in the act with my still camera, but at least I did get the cast of characters.

[attachment 164563 BeachPhotos001LargeLarge.jpg]

The crow only picked on one gull *the smaller of the two) as if he knew not to bother the larger one.

[attachment 164564 BeachPhotos002LargeLarge.jpg]

He would perch on a nearby pole and then swoop back for another go.

[attachment 164565 BeachPhotos003LargeLarge.jpg]

Then he (Or She!!) would move away to check out something on the sand before stirring up more mischief.

[attachment 164566 BeachPhotos004LargeLarge.jpg]

The birds were undisturbed by the only other person at the beach this AM.

Gulls are so accustomed to people that often I have walked within a few feet of them before they would waddle away and only if I looked at them directly would they fly a short distance away.

Crows will not allow you to get that close.

I have heard for years and I'm sure most of you have too about crows being playful and full of mischief, but this is the first time I have watched one of them in action except for chasing after other birds as a flock

(I watched an eagle get forced to ground once in Arizona by a flock of crows!) .

Have a Great Day,

CJ

PS Yesterday the air was crisp and clear enough that I was able to see the houses along the Long Island shore with 8 power binoculars. (A rare thing.)

 

[Kelley (Texas)]

them how to talk...say simple words or short sentences. They make good pets if you catch one just leaving the nest. On the same token, they can be destructive and tear your garden apart. Kelley (Texas)

 

[Cupajo]

Hi Fred,

I've heard the same thing about them talking, but have never witnessed evidence of it in my travels.

They are pretty smart creatures for sure and have been known to tease cats and dogs and other critters for what seems to be "the fun of it"!.

CJ

 

[Micheal_R]

n/t

 

[Royal]

not true. They can talk without splitting the tongue. I had a pet crow and it could talk some. We didn't work with it much but it picked up Hello and Shutup. I had a friend that had one and that sucker could talk much better but he worked with the thing at it.


http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=1006040400012

 

[Royal]

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y206/RoyalOttmar/Videos/?action=view&current=Amazing3.flv

 

[George-CT]

5 miles from here so get a lot of them on the property all day picking thru the meadow muffins, which the name of our farm. They can be really funny birds and great thief's. We have a lot of the young ones here now that make a different sound until they mature and they can drive you nuts at times. We usually look for the watch crow in the tree's when their feeding.. Folks have tammed them around here but I never have. Still enjoy watching them.... George-CT

 

[Cupajo]

Royal, I have heard of various creatures having figured out how to use tools of one kind or another to dig for food etc., but witnessing the crow bending a piece of wire to use it in this way blows my mind!!

Who-da thunk it? Certainly not me!

Thanks for the video Friend,

CJ

 

[Royal]

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y206/RoyalOttmar/Videos/?action=view&current=Smart_Bird.flv

 

[Kelley (Texas)]

n/t

 

[Kelley (Texas)]

n/t

 

[Cupajo]

Sea Gulls have learned to drop clams on parking lots, side walks and sometimes parked cars in an effort to break them open, but this is the first "fishing" bird I have ever heard of.

Soon being called "bird brained" may be a compliment!

CJ