eBirdseed.com Wild Bird Feeding Blog

Have you ever taken particular note of crows? My experience with them until recently has been merely observation. For a long time I did not even consider them worthy photographic subjects!

Often, I have looked up at a crow cawing from atop a building, a tree limb or light post and laughed. Crows can be amusing, even comical. They can be interesting. Here's a photo of a crow grooming another --

Since crows (actually, they are correctly called American Crows) have for some reason chosen to live in urban areas, they can be seen almost anywhere.

However, I did not know until reading Candace Savage's book, "Bird Brains," that crows are considered quite intelligent. Crows, ravens and jays are classified as members of the genus Corvus, and commonly known as corvids. As a group, corvids are said to be uncommonly smart.

When he used to visit my feeding area daily, I was amazed by a certain scrub jay's interaction with me -- how he seemed to trust me, how he waited until I came out and scattered seed, how he landed sometimes within arm's length of where I was standing, how he paused to present me with innumerable photo ops.

Now I know that crows and jays are related and, to quote Ms. Savage, "are beings that, within the constraints of their molecular inheritance, make complex decisions and show every sign of enjoying a rich awareness."

Even given his high degree of intelligence, interaction and decision-making, Mr. Scrub Jay was a unique bird. As the fall season advances toward winter, I've noticed changes in the bird population in general and in the backyard feeding station in particular. Although I knew there would come a day when Mr. Scrub Jay would no longer visit, I do miss him and will always remember him.

P. S. In my last blog, I misidentified the heron as a young Great Blue. The local Audubon birding experts tell me it's an adult Black-Crowned Night Heron. Since these birds are night feeders, that explains why it was so sleepy!

Thanks, and I welcome your comments!

California Kathryn
Fallbrook, CA