If you go down to Willow Farm...
Jul. 19th, 2019 09:53 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rain_gryphonTotino's frozen pizza - the Breakfast of Champions!
*****
So, I could hear some sort of foofaraw going on out back, and I thought one of the actors was a baby Crow. I'd hear a lot of that weak, high-pitched caw, and an occasional adult caw (only that even-toned double caw that I think is more of a social thing than an outright alarm call, though). I could hear excited Starlings too. I finally decided that maybe there's a baby Crow in trouble, and went out to see. I startled about ten Starlings and one adult Crow, all in a group. They were all doing something together, but I haven't a clue what. Way, way more vocalization than hunting food would require, plus I have to think it was the adult Crow making that baby noise.
And, as I type, here comes a cock Grackle with three juveniles, leading them across the lawn toward the spillage beneath the seed feeder. They're old enough to fly, and to peck food up themselves instead of having it handed to them, but still young enough that they follow dad around in a little group, learning the things he knows about finding food, etc.
*****
No matter how fucked up your hobby, there's always someone who'll make you look normal.
*****
So, I could hear some sort of foofaraw going on out back, and I thought one of the actors was a baby Crow. I'd hear a lot of that weak, high-pitched caw, and an occasional adult caw (only that even-toned double caw that I think is more of a social thing than an outright alarm call, though). I could hear excited Starlings too. I finally decided that maybe there's a baby Crow in trouble, and went out to see. I startled about ten Starlings and one adult Crow, all in a group. They were all doing something together, but I haven't a clue what. Way, way more vocalization than hunting food would require, plus I have to think it was the adult Crow making that baby noise.
And, as I type, here comes a cock Grackle with three juveniles, leading them across the lawn toward the spillage beneath the seed feeder. They're old enough to fly, and to peck food up themselves instead of having it handed to them, but still young enough that they follow dad around in a little group, learning the things he knows about finding food, etc.
*****
No matter how fucked up your hobby, there's always someone who'll make you look normal.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-19 09:59 pm (UTC)I know crows are smart and do a lot of communicating with each other, but do other birds do that, too??? More than just basic "Yo, I'm hungry" chirps?
no subject
Date: 2019-07-20 01:18 am (UTC)Everybody has a distress call. Some birds will respond to a distress call by forming a defensive mob, especially if someone's nest is being raided and their babies eaten. Sometimes you'll see that cross species lines, where all the nesting pairs nearby mob to drive off a predator from a nest area.
All of the males have a territorial song ("This is *my* tree!") except Blackbirds, where the females guard the territory (and they guard it maniacally - most people who get attacked by birds have run afoul of American Blackbirds). Lots of mated pairs will give short calls to one another when they're both away from the nest, and out of sight of one another, apparently just to be sure the other is nearby and okay.
Starlings have far and away the most varied songs. They make up individual songs, incorporating bits of other birds' songs, and environmental sounds that they like (bells and sirens seem to be great favourites). They're excellent mimics, but don't seem terribly bright otherwise.
Crows communicate with one another. They are seriously intelligent, on the order of a dog or young child. A friend who lives in California has fed and made friends with the local crows to the point where they leave presents on his driveway (beads, coins, shiny junk - they love glittery things) to keep the friendship going. They're quite capable of understanding the idea of giving a present to encourage an alliance, and do that with one another routinely.
https://rain-gryphon.dreamwidth.org/5484.html#comments for an anecdote about Crows.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-21 01:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-07-20 10:04 am (UTC)We have lots of small, young birds about, mostly Wrens, and the garden bird box is still quite active. The birdbath is also very active as each set of birds comes through after others depart; Jays, Catbirds, Titmice, Cardinals, and Chickadees vie for pool-time! I’ll keep an eye on the water this weekend (quality and quantity) as air temps will be close to 100°F today and tomorrow.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-20 02:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-07-21 01:41 pm (UTC)Do you have a story about a crow? RainGryphon's mention that they can be smart enough to exchange gifts is REALLY intriguing!
no subject
Date: 2019-07-22 09:24 am (UTC)