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May 27, 2009 at 4:09 am #591016
celeste17ParticipantHi all-
I am having a problem with crows in my yard. They are getting so they will take meat off my bbq grill when the fire is on high. Any way to scare them off? Thanks
May 27, 2009 at 4:16 am #667681
cjboffoliParticipantCeleste: Those crows are wicked smart! They’re one of the most effective synanthropic species because they’re hyper-adaptive. I’m not sure there is much you can do besides guarding your grill or covering it while the stuff is cooking.
I think I’ve mentioned this here in the Forums before…..but I heard about a bunch of U of W students who netted some crows on campus for a Biology project. And after they released the birds the crows remembered the students and would dive bomb them when they saw them on campus. Even with the intervals of summer break the crows found and attacked them. I think some even had crow attacks when they were on campus for their 5th reunion! The birds always remembered what they looked like. The students who net and study the birds now wear disguises.
If you have a few minutes, check out this video:
This scientist built a vending machine that the crows learned how to use on their own. They figured out that if they picked up a coin and dropped it in the slot the machine would dispense food. Fascinating.
May 27, 2009 at 4:21 am #667682
datamuseParticipantWouldn’t surprise me in the least; they’re really smart birds. I’ve heard of researchers who were banding baby crows getting dive-bombed by the parents every time they saw them thereafter. Long memories they’ve got.
When I go camping, any table, grill, or fire that’s left unattended for even a minute attracts crows. Best to keep a close watch on it.
(Although, when I was in Athens there were these sparrows that would hop onto the breakfast table while we were still sitting there, looking for a handout. Cheeky!)
May 27, 2009 at 3:15 pm #667683
B-squaredParticipantPerhaps you could tape some rush limbaugh and play it at your next bbq. Didn’t that work for someone trying to get rid of raccoons (or did i read something in to that;) although you both might lose your appetites. or maybe you get all old-school on them and set up a scare-crow to tend the bbq;)
Actually i like crows, and they are very, very smart. i really like the idea of setting up a crow vending machine as right now they just help themselves to the peanut box i have set up for them to share with jays and squirrels. could be quite the profit center;)
May 27, 2009 at 3:32 pm #667684
TrickParticipant“And the birds were calling his name, thought Caw”
~Jack Handy~
I’m sorry, I just had too :)
May 27, 2009 at 5:36 pm #667685
hopeyParticipantI really cannot stand crows exactly because they are so smart. Today I had my dog off leash in my back yard to potty, and for the very first time she took off down the driveway after one of the crows. I was able to recall her in short order, but it renewed my hatred of the crows. They also tried to dive-bomb my dog after I put her in her fenced run.
I am seriously considering getting an airgun to scare them off. I suppose I should check with my neighbor the cop to make sure that would be legal.
May 27, 2009 at 5:41 pm #667686
datamuseParticipantWait–you don’t like crows because your dog chased one? I’m confused. (I get being annoyed at the dive-bombing, though.)
An acquaintance once had a license to keep a crow as a pet. She said they can be kind of a pain because they’re so smart; it’s difficult to keep them caged because they’re really good at getting the things open.
May 27, 2009 at 5:50 pm #667687
carrieannMemberTrick – That quote instantly popped into my head, too. ;D
The only run-in I’ve ever had with a crow was years ago, when I was pushing my daughter (a couple months old at the time) in her stroller as she napped. As I passed a bus stop along California, someone said something, rather garbled, about “beware the crow”. Honestly, I thought they were short a few marbles or on something, so I smiled and disregarded it. About 10 seconds later I start getting divebombed by a crow, swooping at my head and cawing wildly. I ducked down and tried to push through a bit more quickly, probably looking like I was now the one short a few marbles. It wasn’t until I got a bit up the street that I noticed another crow, laying in the parking strip. It wasn’t moving and I didn’t dare stop to inspect more closely with its protector trying to keep everyone away. It was actually rather sweet and kind of a sad display.
My 2-yr-old son gets excited when he sees them and always says, “Hi, caw-caw!” They’re a bother when they manage to get into the garbage, but otherwise I don’t really mind them.
May 27, 2009 at 5:50 pm #667688
hopeyParticipantNo, I’ve never liked crows, period. My dog chasing one just added to the annoyance. She’s never chased any of the other birds that frequent our yard, though she shows a great deal of interest in them. I guess this proves that labradoodles can be birdy hunting dogs though. ;)
A week or two ago I woke to a coven of crows on the utility lines in front of my house. It really creeped me out and made me wish I had something better than a hose to scare them away. (Not that I thought the hose would really work… they are too smart for that.)
May 27, 2009 at 6:00 pm #667689
JiggersMemberRegurgitating here. Crows are very smart and very territorial, a true survivor. They can stomach anything down. I once threw out some old raw chicken that would make a billy goat puke and the crows just ate that s*hit up. Several years ago I went golfing with a few friends and told my friend to make sure his bagels was kept shut tight in the cart, lol, the crow swoooped down while we were putting and got into the bag and took of with the goodies…lmao!!I’ve seen them have gang fights, not one or two, but dozens squaking high above in the sky circiling and jabbing each other around. They are noisy mofo’s in the morning to let other intruders know they are staking their piece of property. I feel that the crow is a very spiritual bird for some reason.
May 27, 2009 at 6:05 pm #667690
KenParticipantI have seen four crows lift the lid off a trash can across the street and load the good loot in a nearby gutter while another pair drove off the gulls.
They are far smarter than the size of their brain can account for.
May 27, 2009 at 6:27 pm #667691
maplesyrupParticipantI’d like to stage a crow vs. raccoon cage match.
Who will be the ultimate urban survivor?
May 28, 2009 at 3:16 am #667692
hollyplaceParticipantThey got us today at Lincoln Park which isn’t unusual at all. But they did open our brand new package of Nutterbutters while we were on the swings! A thick ziploc bag type package. They must have remembered how delish they were from sometime in the past because they had to go into my diaper bag to get them!
May 28, 2009 at 3:27 am #667693
HunterGParticipantAlthough I am an animal lover, I have two words for you…sling shot.
May 28, 2009 at 3:28 am #667694
JayDeeParticipantI cannot pass a loudly cawing crow without responding “Nevermore”…(yes, I know they are not Ravens, but ’tis a matter of a ‘pinion)
Each night I see a long series of crows (too linear to be a “murder”) flying northeast across Alki, presumably heading to Foster Island near the UW, commuting home from their day jobs…
May 28, 2009 at 5:21 pm #667695
rs261MemberMy wife believes the crows and pidgeons have an alliance in the alaska junction area…they are seen working together to chase off seagulls and other birds….
I personally love crows. I’d even suggest giving them easy food bread/etc so that they leave your bbq meat alone. Of course you might just encourage them to come by more often, but if the food is easy to get, no reason to go for the difficult stuff!
May 28, 2009 at 5:35 pm #667696
HMC RichParticipantI agree with rs261. On various mornings I give the crows old food scraps. I don’t do it every day but they understand that I am not out to hurt them. They loved the cheerios I let them have the other day.
They are too intelligent. No wonder wolves and crows have such a good bond. I call them Odin and Freya. I think they are re-incarnated Vikings.
May 28, 2009 at 5:42 pm #667697
MargLMemberPersonally I’m glad we still have a lot of crows around. They’re kind of an indicator species for West Nile Virus. If the crows disappear we know we have a problem.
May 28, 2009 at 11:23 pm #667698
JiggersMemberMaplesyrup..In a caged match a crow would lose by a mile to a racoon. If it can’t fly or dodge a racoons sharp teeth and sharp claws, it’s done.
May 29, 2009 at 5:50 pm #667699
emilyMemberI do wonder if there are more crows this year than normal. We’ve had crows apparently fighting in our cherry tree all this week. I can’t tell if its real fighting, precursor to mating, or just playing. Whatever it is, it is freaking my dog out.
May 31, 2009 at 9:10 pm #667700
Dave-AndersonMemberI kind of like crows, they are beautiful. We have a juvenile pair in our neighborhood. One buzzed me one day. It just cawed and flew a couple feet over my head. A few days later they were both in my yard cawing at us like they owned the place. But I think it’s funny. The neighbor’s hyper dogs make more racket.
By the way a group of crows is called a ‘murder’ not a coven. :)
June 8, 2009 at 7:04 pm #667701
RachaelMemberFor the past week two crows have followed me from my house to my bus stop crowing and swooping at me the whole way. I don’t know what I did to them to deserve this, but now they hang out on a power line and glare/crow at me until I get on the bus. It’s getting so ridiculous that I think I’m going to have to go another route to my bus stop.
June 8, 2009 at 11:49 pm #667702
The Velvet BulldogParticipantI wonder if the crows have had babies recently? They’re definitely more active and acting territorial around my home and in fact one had a shouting match with my cat a couple of days ago. I couldn’t believe it–the crow was cawing, then would pause and my cat would do his “chatter” (you cat people know this right? the cat sees a bird and does a chattering thing…) When he stopped, the crow would caw back at him. Finally the crow had enough and swooped down at the cat who ran like hell. Was absolutely hilarious.
June 9, 2009 at 12:14 am #667703
MargLMemberI’m pretty sure they’re nesting right now. We have several that are being very territorial, chasing/diving/cawing at basically anything that moves. Cats, people, squirrels, other birds… There were a couple that had a nest in our front yard last year (the baby didn’t make it) but I know they have a new nest in the area somewhere.
June 9, 2009 at 5:44 am #667704
goodgracesParticipantI <heart> crows in every way. They are a truly extraordinary species. The world would be a sad place without ’em.
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