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1. jwws
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   For the last 3-1/2 weeks I've happily watched as Robins built a nest on our back gate trellis, laid and hatched their brood. 2 weeks ago the crows found the nest and Mom and Dad Robin chased them away - it became a daily occurrence and I would shoo the crows away with water from the hose or flapping arms whenever I saw them. As of Friday there were 2 hatchlings and as of yesterday Mom and Dad Robin were busily feeding the newborns. Today we woke to a racket - the crows ( who live in our neighbor's trees and who they feed with bread scraps daily - which also attracts rats - Thank You neighbor) have snatched both babies, Mom and Dad Robin are gone and our life is a little emptier. I know it's the cycle of things but I'd really like to shoot these crows - was so looking forward to baby Robins learning to fly in our backyard.. :-(

   Posted 12 months ago #         

2. Jill
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   Aw, that's so sad, jwws, part of the cycle of life or not. It must've been neat to watch them prepare, but if the nest is still sitting there empty, that must be hard. There are some crows next door to us this year who've been battling with a nest of starlings camped out in a hole in our neighbor's attic. I think (hope) the starlings are holding their own so far.

   As I walked out to go to the market yesterday, I uttered to myself, "So, am I gonna get dive-bombed today?" Typically when it happens, I'm either on the way to or from the Sun. market ~10-11am, and the feeling was definitely in the air yesterday. No sooner did I finish that sentence than the squawking and ambush indeed occurred. Ugh.

   Posted 12 months ago #         

3. MargL
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   If it's any consolation a few years ago a couple of crows built a nest in a tree in our front yard, had a chick and one day I went out to find the chick squashed in the road (apparently by a car) after it had either been knocked from the nest by a predator or tried to fly and failed...
   Then this year there are a couple of crows in our backyard, who probably have a nest that I believe was just raided by the neighborhood raccoon.

   Posted 12 months ago #         

4. anonyme
   Member Profile

   MargL, good perspective. It happens all throughout nature, not just with crows. I've seen raptors and even gulls take baby crows.

   I love crows, but I do know how heartbreaking and disturbing it can be seeing them kill baby birds. They seem to especially prey on robins. I don't know why exactly, maybe the nests are more accessible than others.

   Posted 11 months ago #         

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