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1. JimmyG
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   Anyone else experiencing the battle of the crows?

   For about the past 3 weeks each morning starting around 0430 hours the crow arguments start and continue for an hour or so. They seem especially angry, and I\'ve gone out on my back deck and watched them squawk and chase each other. I honestly think there are groups feuding over a couple of the larger trees off of our alley, and they get quite physical.

   I can\'t remember summers past where this has happened, so I\'m guessing it\'s not breeding season. Any crow experts out there? Has a new murder of crows moved into an area that already has a crow gang here?

   Is it just my neighborhood, or any other WSers having a crow hubub where you live?

   Posted 3 years ago #         

2. cruiser
   Member Profile

   

   JimmyG,

   Don\'t think I can help ya there...the only turf war I know of between birds, is the one on these forums between the Golden Girls:)

   C.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

3. angelescrest
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   We had this kind of racket--then went out to discover a raccoon had climbed into the tree, ousted a baby crow(or more)from a nest way up high, and then settled itself in the nest. Sad, sad. Check for a nest? Unbelievable squawking, wich we forgave, of course.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

4. JimmyG
   Member Profile

   

   cruiser, bah-dum-bum! You should be doing stand up.

   angelscrest, we do have an overabundance of squirrels (due to our neighbor who insists on feeding them peanuts that they then bury in our flower beds) and some of them use the one cedar tree, so maybe you\'re on to something.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

5. MargL
   Member Profile

   We had that yesterday afternoon. The crows seemed very upset about something tho\' I didn\'t go out to see what it was. In the past it\'s been one of the neighborhood cats coming thru the yard and I\'ve also seen arguments between the scrub jays, the flickers and the crows. Sometimes the hummingbird joins in following them around. I\'m not kidding.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

6. Irukandji
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   I\'ve noticed more crows, but no particular agitation. The hummingbirds, though, seem to be more abundant AND aggressive. That\'s what happens when the abutelon matures!

   Posted 3 years ago #         

7. thriftwaygirl
   Member Profile

   I haven\'t had a problem with any noise, but I frequently see the the crows war with Blue Jays.

   The other day the crows won - saw them (3) picking apart a Jay while his other Blue Jay friends (5) tried to keep the crows away from their fallen friend.

   :(

   Posted 3 years ago #         

8. flipjack
   Member Profile

   

   Yeah, Crows over here are all noisy, but it\'s because they have young crows that have just hatched and they are very protective of their babies and can become very aggressive with anyone or thing coming close.
   I saw a Crow and a Robin getting into it a few days ago both making a racket, and then a humming bird came and sorta joined in. It was pretty funny.
   I was about ready to purchase a high powered water gun to make the crow go away though. They seem to have settled down now.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

9. barb
   Member Profile

   I work in Tacoma and noticed today (probably been like this for a bit but just noticed today because of this thread) that the crows are VERY active.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

10. Peaches
    Member Profile

    JimmyG--I\'m not sure how big the trees off your alley are, but I\'m wondering if they are big enough to host a roosting raptor/owl. Since your war starts at dawn, it may be the crows are coming off their roosts (they roost communally in at least one place along the Duwamish River), and happen upon a raptor that sleeps in a bit. I always know there\'s a raptor in my area, as the crows go ballistic when a red-tail hawk or eagle lights on a limb of the big cottonwoods behind my house. The crows can\'t seem to get out of their own way in their efforts to dive-bomb the hapless raptor, even crashing into each other in flight. And the crow-racket that gets going must be some kind of APB, as it seems to attract even more crows that appear from every direction.
    Crows are also familial--youngsters generally hang out with the parents for a year or two after fledging. Not sure how much food competition there is between generations, but I\'ve seen full-grown crows begging to be fed by equally full-grown crows. Could be some kind of extended family feud going on in your backyard!

    Posted 3 years ago #         

11. JimmyG
    Member Profile

    

    Peaches, you may be right. The neighbors tree in the alley is a huge cedar.
    Months ago I watched the crows torture an Eagle without mercy, it was sad yet amazing in a \"train-wreck-can\'t-look-away\" kind of way.

    Posted 3 years ago #         

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