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Virginia Crow Observation LogsUpdated: June 20, 2001.This section includes reports of various observers from the State of Virginia. Manassas, VA, United States: 5/23/01 Location_Description: My subdivision is a part of a growing suburbia, our home has a fenced yard with a bird feeder. Behavior: When our dog attacked a crow, there was a small flock of five to seven crows in the tree above. Taking turns, they divebombed the dog and would then return to the tree above until their turn came about, cawing all the while. They continued until I went outside to bring the dog away. When I went outside, the injured bird, still young enough to have blue eyes, merely laid on the ground. The crows stayed in the tree until the injured one was put in a box and brought inside to be brought later to a medical facility. Annandale, Northern Virginia: 5/20/00 Location_Description: Suburban Washington D.C. area. Wooded residential neighborhood with lots of very old tall trees. Behavior: I have been observing the American Crow in my backyard for years. There is a family of four here. One of them is very bright and will come when I whistle for him/her. They have associated me with food. I feed them twice daily. They are quite territorial of the backyard.(they chase out the neighbors' cats )They get along pretty well with other birds. Comments: I know that they have come to recognise me. They will also check out my friends who arrive. I find them very intelligent backyard companions. They seem to enjoy watching me as much as I do them. (Susan Farrell) Loudoun County, Virginia: winters, 1996, 1997 (Reported 4/5/00) Location_Description: Loudoun County Landfill, Leesburg, Virginia. Virginia piedmont. Snall landfill surrounded by agricultural land and forest. Behavior: The landfill attracted ring-billed and herring gulls as well as fish and American Crows. As the gulls loafed on sunny hillsides surrounding the dumping area, the crows would walk among them, usually quietly, but occasionally pecking at one or another. Often one crow would "pick" on one gull, pulling at tail or wing feathers, and chasing it until the gull flew off. Other gulls in the immediate area would usually move away on foot when this happened. The gulls rarely, if ever, retaliated. Several crows engaged in this "harassment", but I never saw what appeared to be group, or cooperative activity on the part of the crows. They did watch one another, however. Comments: These observations were part of my as-yet unfinished doctoral project at Geo. Mason U. My interpretation is that the crows may use this "harassment" of the larger gulls as an intimidation tactic to give them an advantage on the dump when they compete for food items. Any other suggestions or interpretations would be welcome! (hillary cressey) (This section will be added to on a continuing basis. Your comments and suggestions are welcomed. Other parts of the site are also under construction. This site will be continually expanding as the Crows.net Project grows.) |
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