Because they are EVIL. The Bluejays in our neighborhood have been replaced by- I'm not exaggerating- crows that are the size of a small dog!
OK, you have to check out the NY Times article from last year about this. There was another study more recently that demonstrated that crows remember clearly people who have threatened them.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/science/26crow.html?_r=1&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all
I have this super annoying bird in my neighborhood who makes a habit of sitting just outside my bedroom window and singing loudly -- not so unusual, except that this one does it between 11 pm and 3 am -- really!!! Aren't birds supposed to be asleep then?
Crows aren't my favorite either. And, you are in good company--I've been known to chatter to the birds and squirrels and whatever other creatures wind up in my path.
Jasmne, as you've discovered there are a number of nocturnal birds. The one that makes me crazy is the nighthawk who buzzes my bedroom window repeatedly as it hunts. Mockingbirds and Whip-poor-wills are two other common night singers.
It's the same for all species: when the mating instinct kicks in, they disregard everything else. Ever seen a bunch of teenaged guys making complete fools of themselves regardless of who's watching?
I rest my case.
Oooo, if you have a bunch of crows then you have a "murder" of crows. Doesn't that sound way cooler and more exciting than it actually is? (I always hear it in a cheesy late-night-tv accent in my head. Muuuhrdeh of Crows)
During some research on bird behaviors they discovered that crows will fashion, and use tools to obtain something they want. They are pretty smart.
But yes, they are big 'ole hooligans. We try bribing them with peanuts (them and the Stellar's Jays) and they all just end up bossing us around when the peanuts run out.
I'm the owner of a large Maple tree. It is the home for a dozen crows.
Plus a large Raccoon that seems to have twins every year.
Last summer I saw the mom hauling to young ones out of the hot tub. They were so cute squeeging the water off thier little bodies. Hot tub hadn't been used in years..and is now EMPTY. I might add.
They like to sleep in the tree in the hot weather.
Crows are very aware of Who Loves Them and Who Does Not. We had a Crow Fatality in our bird-friendly backyard earlier this week, and several days later the Significant Others are still dive-bombing the border collie who helped a crow find his Great Release From This Mortal Coil. They continue to loudly mourn the loss of their beloved. (This was a threesome. I don't even pretend to understand why two crows are so heartbroken over the loss of the third.) Frankly, it both hurts my heart and totally pisses me off.
Crows are so smart and incredibly beautiful...but I'm still not a big fan. When I was in high school National Geographic actually came to a town nearby to film the crows - Auburn used to get thousands upon thousands upon thousands (I'm not exaggerating - remember National Geographic came to upstate NY to film this). Finally they started a crow hunt (they tried everything else) and it decreased the numbers. But it's kind of disconcerting when a dozen large chicken sized black birds are roaming your lawn...
This was in the Wenatchee paper yesterday.
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090610/NEWS04/706109917?And-then-the-feathers-flew-...
Crows attacking a golden eagle. The eagle is flying UPSIDE DOWN!!! Dang crows. I didn't even know birds *could* fly upside down!
Sad to say, Ryan, I'm not a fan of crows...
We had a raven at work trying to eat cat food the other day, though. That was fun :)
Given the number of times I have talked to the cat, I can so picture you waving your arms at the crows.
It doesn't work with the cat, so I'm unsurprised by the crow result.
I know what you're problem was. Instead of yelling,
"You don’t understand! You have to leave me alone! I’m at the top of the food chain",
you should have run around waving your arms saying,
"CAW, CAW, CAW! CAW, CAW, CAW, CAW, CAW, CAW! CAW, CAW, CAW, CAW, CAW, CAW, CAW, CAW!"
They'll only believe you if you catch one and eat it. No, rilly. Trust me on this one.
Tastes like chicken.
Because they are EVIL. The Bluejays in our neighborhood have been replaced by- I'm not exaggerating- crows that are the size of a small dog!
Posted by Jasmin at June 10, 2009 10:06 AMOK, you have to check out the NY Times article from last year about this. There was another study more recently that demonstrated that crows remember clearly people who have threatened them.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/science/26crow.html?_r=1&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all
Posted by Lorette at June 10, 2009 11:52 AMI have this super annoying bird in my neighborhood who makes a habit of sitting just outside my bedroom window and singing loudly -- not so unusual, except that this one does it between 11 pm and 3 am -- really!!! Aren't birds supposed to be asleep then?
Posted by Jasmine at June 10, 2009 12:34 PMCrows aren't my favorite either. And, you are in good company--I've been known to chatter to the birds and squirrels and whatever other creatures wind up in my path.
Jasmne, as you've discovered there are a number of nocturnal birds. The one that makes me crazy is the nighthawk who buzzes my bedroom window repeatedly as it hunts. Mockingbirds and Whip-poor-wills are two other common night singers.
Posted by Kristen at June 10, 2009 01:02 PMIt's the same for all species: when the mating instinct kicks in, they disregard everything else. Ever seen a bunch of teenaged guys making complete fools of themselves regardless of who's watching?
Posted by Batty at June 10, 2009 04:59 PMI rest my case.
Oooo, if you have a bunch of crows then you have a "murder" of crows. Doesn't that sound way cooler and more exciting than it actually is? (I always hear it in a cheesy late-night-tv accent in my head. Muuuhrdeh of Crows)
During some research on bird behaviors they discovered that crows will fashion, and use tools to obtain something they want. They are pretty smart.
But yes, they are big 'ole hooligans. We try bribing them with peanuts (them and the Stellar's Jays) and they all just end up bossing us around when the peanuts run out.
Posted by Laurie at June 10, 2009 07:42 PMI'm the owner of a large Maple tree. It is the home for a dozen crows.
Posted by annie at June 11, 2009 02:05 AMPlus a large Raccoon that seems to have twins every year.
Last summer I saw the mom hauling to young ones out of the hot tub. They were so cute squeeging the water off thier little bodies. Hot tub hadn't been used in years..and is now EMPTY. I might add.
They like to sleep in the tree in the hot weather.
Crows are very aware of Who Loves Them and Who Does Not. We had a Crow Fatality in our bird-friendly backyard earlier this week, and several days later the Significant Others are still dive-bombing the border collie who helped a crow find his Great Release From This Mortal Coil. They continue to loudly mourn the loss of their beloved. (This was a threesome. I don't even pretend to understand why two crows are so heartbroken over the loss of the third.) Frankly, it both hurts my heart and totally pisses me off.
Posted by Gail at June 11, 2009 02:11 AMCrows are so smart and incredibly beautiful...but I'm still not a big fan. When I was in high school National Geographic actually came to a town nearby to film the crows - Auburn used to get thousands upon thousands upon thousands (I'm not exaggerating - remember National Geographic came to upstate NY to film this). Finally they started a crow hunt (they tried everything else) and it decreased the numbers. But it's kind of disconcerting when a dozen large chicken sized black birds are roaming your lawn...
Posted by Elizabeth at June 11, 2009 05:01 AMThis was in the Wenatchee paper yesterday.
Posted by Diana at June 11, 2009 08:32 AMhttp://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090610/NEWS04/706109917?And-then-the-feathers-flew-...
Crows attacking a golden eagle. The eagle is flying UPSIDE DOWN!!! Dang crows. I didn't even know birds *could* fly upside down!
Sad to say, Ryan, I'm not a fan of crows...
We had a raven at work trying to eat cat food the other day, though. That was fun :)
You are awesome.
Posted by Kim at June 11, 2009 08:38 AMGiven the number of times I have talked to the cat, I can so picture you waving your arms at the crows.
It doesn't work with the cat, so I'm unsurprised by the crow result.
Posted by Seanna Lea at June 11, 2009 09:29 AMI know what you're problem was. Instead of yelling,
Posted by ken-bob at June 11, 2009 01:56 PM"You don’t understand! You have to leave me alone! I’m at the top of the food chain",
you should have run around waving your arms saying,
"CAW, CAW, CAW! CAW, CAW, CAW, CAW, CAW, CAW! CAW, CAW, CAW, CAW, CAW, CAW, CAW, CAW!"
They'll only believe you if you catch one and eat it. No, rilly. Trust me on this one.
Tastes like chicken.
Posted by Rabbitch at June 16, 2009 04:34 AM