Random question for everybody just out of curiosity, how many of you have actively tried to learn to befriend corvids since 2020? My uh friend wants to know
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I’ve been doing it for years before covid, but after I moved into my new neighborhood in 2018, it intensified— I have back deck interactions (pro-tip: leave a bowl of fresh water out if you want to entice crows; leave a snack too & they’ll remember). Also interactions in nearby blocks.
Cromwell requested assistance, presenting with a damaged wing. Didn't want medical intervention; wanted easy food. Two delightful months then left. Came back for a bit with a companion. Torresian crow.
We feed birds.
I live in a fairly dense neighborhood and I just think about that story where the birds got aggressive with the neighbors bc only one guy was giving them stuff. I don't want to start shit 😆
Me! I’ve been putting out peanuts in their shells every morning. At first only squirrels &blue jays (which are Corvids too, I think) showed up. The crows did finally! And now they recognize me! If they are in the trees& see me go out to my car, they fly to the tree in the front yard 1/2
& call to each other! They are altruistic . When I put out the unsalted peanuts in the shells ,the first one there will call the others to eat. They stuff as many as will fit in their throats and then fly across the street and eat them there. :) 2/2
This is Mr. peanut, my scrub-jay, in action. He decided I was going to hand feed him; the crows I’ve been feeding for years are still wary, except when they swoop down silently and brush my head to let me know it’s snack time
I found out a couple-three years ago or so when I saw a blue jay playing with a mole in front of my house. I absolutely had to find out more about what the hell, and discovered they were corvids! And now I have a flock of them regularly hanging out in my mulberry tree and eating the feral cat kibble
We attempted to befriend the local murder of crows - but couldn't keep the race oons and squirrels from eating the treats we put out. Still trying to create a workable crow station!
I don’t have any corvid advice but I can at least offer the front and back boards from the Folio Society Gormenghast. @jamberee13.bsky.social, I think you’ll like this too.
Each new generation keeps showing back up! Though over the past several months I've been neglectful of them. But often whenever I pop into the back yard, they remind me of my peanut obligations.
Yes, I have. My results haven't been the best. Tho, I was away from work for a few months and got a different car. (I've been trying to make friends with the crows at work) when I see them, I throw peanuts, aka "crow nom noms." I've had a few call out to me when they see me but no certified friends
Whenever I see a crow I smile and say hello and tell it how nice it's looking that day. I would be happy to befriend beyond that but I have not looked into how to start.
I started sharing unsalted peanuts, too (they seem to enjoy shelling them) and now have a Loyal Crow Gang that follows me everywhere. I didn't see them for about a week while sick and had a bunch come up to the front door to check on me (and get snacks). They're good birds.
“My” crows will grab a peanut, leave to shell it, and then they come back to dip the shelled peanut into the water dishes I also put out for them. Only then will they eat ‘em!
A few weeks ago I heard some crack-crack and crack sounds from the driveway and the crows were dropping walnuts (again) they pilfered from somewhere, haha. (Drop them to bust them open.)
We have scrub jays and crows. The jays are smart and aggressive. The crows are so smart they stay rational while the jays are like playful kids. We had one that would take a peanut from your hand BEFORE you even offered. In the mountains we had Stellar’s jays, also very smart. Wonderful dinosaurs.
These are my homies, the Hooded Murder Boyz. I've been teaching them to catch cat kibble since late summer. Today, I had about 40 following me when walking the dog in the park. They line up as soon as we leave the building each morning. Also, https://bsky.app/profile/carlbergstrom.com/post/3k5e6btkslm2e
I followed Carl Bergstrom's advice and got an unbelievably large bag of unsalted peanuts in the shell. Also made a short, easy-to-yell call for them so they know who I am.
At the beginning you have to find them perching, call, drop some nuts, and walk away without looking (like Lot from Sodom).
Once they know who you are you can call and they'll come, and you can throw them a nut or two at a time to come grab. But at the beginning you have to get them to trust you, and eye contact is threatening, so don't be tempted to look. :)
i know it is so hard! i usually walk around the block and then come back to pick up any nuts that weren't taken. i'm not trying to increase the local rat population.
I've been fascinated with crows for a few decades, but it wasn't until 2-3 years ago I started carrying a bag of peanuts in the shell on my bike rides. If I see crows, I toss them peanuts. If I don't see crows, I bought (& I'm sorta embarrassed to admit this) a crow call to let them know I'm around.
I don't call them to my home for reasons, but I often ride my bike to certain locations at odd times of the day. The call is handy then, though sometimes there's no answer and I'm left making ridiculous crow sounds, holding a bag of peanuts, hoping nobody is paying attention.
I tried years ago when I was writing a book where a crow was a main character. I had a small murder I worked with in Elysian Park but I couldn't establish the regularity I needed to truly befriend them. If I ever retire, I'm going back to trying.
It was a good book, but my agent didn't like it so it still lays fallow. I pirated the core idea (minus the crow) for a short story this summer and that story at least is getting published in January, so it wasn't a complete loss.
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I keep meaning to ask if birds other than magpies have counting poems about them but keep forgetting.
Did not realize how tall they are!
We feed birds.
🐦⬛🖤🐦⬛🖤
- "Huh, is that a raven?": crow
- "HOLY SHIT LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT FUCKING RAVEN": raven
A regular time is very helpful
we have huge ones who like to buzz by our windows so i think they’re already curious
But I’ve always adored them…..
At the beginning you have to find them perching, call, drop some nuts, and walk away without looking (like Lot from Sodom).