"Pay attention, be astonished and tell about it."
Mary Oliver
It has been a while since I have reported on the five American Crows (Corvus brachyrynchus) that regularly visit our backyard, and appear to be particularly bonded to Miriam.
Whenever she tosses out food for them, juicy bits of fat and other delectables, she calls to them and then talks to them while they descend on the yard and gather up the food. John Marzluff and Tony Angell in their wonderful book Gifts of the Crow, referring to a crow named Macaw that Tony had befriended, state, "When Macaw heard Tony greet him each day, that sound rippled from his ear up his eighth cranial nerve and into his forebrain, and eventually became a memory."
I have no doubt that this is what has happened with "our" crows and that they not only recognize Miriam auditorily, but also visually, and they have concluded that she is their friend.
When we first embarked on this adventure with these wary corvids, they would not come down in the yard if they could so much as see us through the window. Gradually they have overcome their inhibitions and we (but especially Miriam) have won their trust.
When they arrive they call to her and wait patiently until she appears at the window and provides food. They seem genuinely delighted to see her and switch to a rattle call followed by soft, gurgly vocalization, quite distinct from the normal caws familiar to everyone. While much of this gentle sound is directed at each other, I have not the slightest doubt that some of it is meant for Miriam.
It seems to have an overall calming effect and when the birds come to ground to get the food, they do not fight over it, and while a couple of individuals (dominant birds, I assume) seem to take more than others, they all gain a share of the feast.
It is tempting to anthropomorphize about this situation, and I confess that the temptation is too great for me to resist. There has been a sea change in recent years about animals' emotions and their ability to experience joy and sorrow, mourning, play and other states formerly thought exclusively the preserve of humans. It is hard not to conclude that a specific connection has been established between Miriam and the birds, important to them in ways surpassing the provision of food.
We have been enriched by the experience and look forward to meeting their children later in the year. We'll have food for them too.
In the meantime, enjoy a few more pictures of these handsome friends.
I hope you too will one day be able to forge a realtionship with crows. You will be thrilled at the extent to which it will enrich your life.
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They are such beautiful and clever birds.
ReplyDelete...I was surprised to learn that crows are omnivores.
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteDelightful! I think you are aware that I have a fondness for corvids (as much as seabirds) and I have no doubt at all that Miriam is considered at least non-threatening, if not in fact a member of the 'murder'!!! YAM xx
The American crow is a very beautiful bird, David. They are related to other crows and magpies, and what they all have in common is that they are very wise. Yes, they definitely recognize Miriam. "My" birds also recognize me, and I think that's so nice.
ReplyDeleteHugs and kisses, Marit
A smart and beautiful bird.
ReplyDeleteOh, I am so jealous! I do so love crows. When I walked to college up here in 1999-2000 a few crows used to follow me through the trees for the many blocks. I didn't feed them--just loved them, observed them, and chatted with them on my way to school. I remember that sound you described!! They are so smart and just delight me to no end. :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures....We suddenly have an influx of them here..I have a family member who loves crows and often extolls their virtues...like how smart they are. I have read that to be the case. Later in the summer we are inundated with large flocks that are very vocal.
ReplyDeleteHave a good week.
C'est certains que ces corbeaux soient devenus vos amis.
ReplyDeleteJ'aime beaucoup ces beaux oiseaux. Il y'en a plusieurs qui passent au dessus de chez moi presque tous les jours mais ils s'arrêtent très rarement. Je n'en ai jamais vu un de près. Bonne soirée
I adore the corvid family. They are such intelligent and family minded birds - and it is a huge privilege to be able to interact with them.
ReplyDeleteAll kudos to Miriam and to you.
Corvids to seem to be some of the most intelligent of birds, David. How wonderful it is that they are recognising Miriam's kindness and 'friendship'. I'd love to build up a relationship like that with one of our garden visitors. Currently, Blackbird looks to be the most likely to oblige, with Magpie not far behind.
ReplyDeleteMy very best wishes to you both - and the crows! - - - Richard
Magpie seems like a really good candidate, Richard.
DeleteRick and I have done the same this winter. We have four who come to our house when we open the door now. Over time, they are not afraid at all. There was a point where they would turn away from us if they saw us, as if, “if I can’t see you, you can’t see me.” There is a dominant bird here too. Wonderful creatures and a joy to get to know!
ReplyDeleteWell done, Marie. They are eternally fascinating aren't they?
DeleteHow fantastic that Miriam is building a relationship with crows. They really are smart birds, aren't they I've been seeing a lot around my yard in the last year, so maybe I need some tutoring from Miriam how she does this. Hope the new week is going well. hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see crows visiting my backyard!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that they communicate with Mirjam.
ReplyDeleteCrows are really super smart.
You took really nice pictures David.
Greetings Irma
I really love crows, and I think it's great that they eat roadkill etc. So useful! I'm sure our local ones recognise me as I throw out a bit of food to them now and then. They bring joy to the world - all birds I mean. Cheers sherry
ReplyDeleteHi David,
ReplyDeleteAs long as you like it it feels great when birds react upon your actions this way. In our garden western jackdaws are possible candidates, but because there is een flock of more than 100 of them we don't even think about it. Eurasian magpies are other possible candidates but because they are already terrorising our garden chasing all other birds away we prefer other kinds of birds.
As long as you have a pleasant interaction with the crows I understand that it brings a lot of fun.
Greetings, Kees
Interesting post on the Crows. They love Miriam, she brings them treats.
ReplyDeleteGreat collection of photos! Take care, enjoy your day!
I feel the connection just reading about them. I can only imagine a relationship with crows. we have relationships with 2 squirrels that we never had in the past because our other dogs chased them. Beau pays them no mind, they come within a few feet of him and he just ignores them. we talk to them. we also have the same with mama and papa lizards on our fence. When i talk to them, they watch me and listen to every word, they cock their heads and really listen.
ReplyDeleteHan ganado confianza, ofreciéndoles comida. En un lugar cerca de casa, hay un solar, vallado con una tela metálica y allí se refugiaron dos gatos callejeros. Diariamente les facilitaba alimentación y nada más que verme acudían a mi encuentro. Muchas veces , s desentendían de la comida y se refregaban por mis pies.
ReplyDeleteAhora ya llevo tiempo sin verlos, los ha capturado en una jaulas y le han puesto las respectivas vacunas y las últimas noticias que tengo es que una familia se la ha llevado a una casa que tiene en el campo.
Besos.
I hope to meet these birds this year! We had a family of Magpies (not crows!) in our backyard a few years ago. They would tap on the glass of the kitchen door to remind us to give them breakfast! Cheers Stewart M - Melbourne
ReplyDeleteI love crows, and they are the predominant birds here, and often visit my balcony. Hugs, Valerie xxxxx
DeleteI am quite sure I will be able to arrange that.
DeleteClever and useful birds !
ReplyDeleteNice post !
Have a nice day !
Anna
We never had the same connection with the crows that would come to our backyard feeders in VA, but interesting to read that Miriam has definitely done so. Also, I did not realize how intelligent these birds are so thanks for that information, David.
ReplyDeleteHello David :=)
ReplyDeleteIt is a privilege and a pleasure when birds and other wild creatures, know you are a friend, and have no fear of you..I don't see the crow up here, but no doubt they are in the fields. The Jay is still wary of me, but "my" other birds are becoming more confiding, especially the Coal-tit, and they perch very near me when I go outside to feed them. The members of the Tit Family also cling on to the wrought iron gate which covers the window, and look inside my bedroom to call my attention to the empty feeders.It's wonderful that Miriam has gained the trust of the crows, and these intelligent birds know she is a friend.
Thank you for your ID of the Robin Family David. :=) ox
I love these photos. My favorite bird.
ReplyDeleteSon aves muy inteligentes y saben muy bien quien se porta bien con ellos. Abrazos querido amigo David.
ReplyDeleteI see crows only at altitudes of 1800-2000 m.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful blog about the bond between Miriam and the American crows in your backyard! It brought me back to my childhood when my neighbor had a tame crow that always sat on his shoulder. It seems that the crows in your garden not only recognize Miriam by her voice, but also visually. It's wonderful to see how these shy birds slowly gain their trust in you and seem to genuinely enjoy Miriam's company and the food she provides. It's fascinating how animals can have emotions and we are still trying to understand their complexity.
ReplyDeleteHowever, we have about 20 to 30 crows in the oak tree next to our house, which causes a lot of inconvenience. We try to chase them away regularly.
It is sad that when the crows pose an "inconvenience" to humans you try to chase them away. We have taken away most of their habitat, poisoned the water, the soil and the air - and we think they are an inconvenience?
DeleteYou are right. And I love them.... but my hubby can't sleep. Why that one oak? There are so many trees in our village ;-)
DeleteWe had a nest out back one year, but they were never going to come near me! I enjoyed them.
ReplyDeletenice shots of the crows. We have a lot of them and I see some daily in different places. They are used to people coming and going. So they stay put until where they think it is too close.Approx 4 meters. Thenthey take off.
ReplyDeleteUna belleza los cuervos, son aves fascinantes e inteligentes
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post, from that first Mary Oliver quotation right through all the photos. I rarely see a crow here, but it's always a treat when I do; clearly, Miriam has developed a mutual trust with them. Your note about their ability to experience emotion became obvious to me the day I watched a pair of grackels grieving over a nestling who died when a storm destroyed the nest and dropped it to the ground. I've sometimes thought about reposting the poem, but every time I read it, I reexperience my own pain over the experience and decide not to. Better to celebrate the joys all these clever creatures bring, perhaps.
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful. I have heard crows in the distance for many years, but never any in the yard.
ReplyDeletehello David
ReplyDeletewhen you watch the crows you quickly realize how clever these birds are. In the city I could see them waiting patiently for someone to throw their food in the garbage can. A short time later they opened the lid of the bin themselves and took out the delicious pieces... of course everything else that was lying around.
Greetings Frank
Me ha gustado conocer a vuestro nuevos "amigos". Seguro que conoceréis a sus hijos, Os deseo una buena Pascua.
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo.
Me ha gustado conocer a vuestro nuevos "amigos". Miriam se ganó su confianza. y seguro que os llevarán a sus hijos para que los conozcáis.Precisas fotos.
ReplyDeleteOs deseo una buena Pascua.
Un abrazo.
Fine pictures of these fascinating birds
ReplyDeleteI love this, David. Miriam must have a special gift to attract these birds and the patience to do it -- and now they are her friends.
ReplyDeleteI bought Gifts of the Crow mere hours before discovering this lovely post. I'm happy to hear that Miriam is strengthening the bonds between her and her Corvid pals. Sadly, I found the body of a crow this fall and am certain it was a long-standing 'friend' of mine, the matriarch or patriarch perhaps, who would permit my presence in the yard when he/she (ki?) swooped in for a treat. The remaining birds are much more skittish so I have my work cut out for me, especially when the squirrels gobble up the peanuts I throw atop my shed.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the photos - particularly the one of the Fab Five on the fence. Fantastic!
Great to hear from you, Lisa. Good luck with your crows.
DeleteWe have a lot of birds here and sometimes they gather in the old oaks, making noise and just being delightful. Sometimes I see them chasing away the red-shouldered hawks when they get too close to their nests - just today I was able to witness that. I saw them collaborating with the scrub jays in their mission to chase away the hawks. Quite impressive.
ReplyDeleteBuenos días, querido amigo, no tengo la menor duda, apreciado David que, esa conexión existe entre Miriam y los cuervos. Dicen de ellos que son aves tremendamente inteligentes al igual que las urracas e incluso pueden llegar a reconocer a las personas.
ReplyDeleteUn interesante y muy bello post.
Un fuerte abrazo, queridos amigos y en especial uno para Miriam por su gran destreza y generosidad.
Un precioso recorrido de muy bonitos paisajes, una delicia disfrutarlos.
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo y feliz semana de Pascua.
Crows are intelligent.
ReplyDeleteHow cool that they communicate with Miriam!
I have always thought that crows were intelligent but this just proves that they are and what a joy for Miriam.
ReplyDeleteI am back home with far too many photos to go through after nine weeks and a garden that is screaming out help re lawn cutting, weeding flower beds, vegetable garden for preparation and planting etc etc. Despite being home now for 5 days, the body is only adapting slowly to hard work, and long sleeps are needed!
Take care both of you, and very best wishes Diane
Corvids are very intelligent, there are now enough studies to prove it.
ReplyDeleteThey fill us with joy when it happens like in your backyard.
Bonne journée David. Gros bisous
They are very beautiful birds, and it’s delightful that they are interacting with you and Miriam in this way. I enjoyed your story and the photos.
ReplyDeletebest… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Happy crows!
ReplyDeleteGreat clicks of the most intelligent bird
ReplyDeleteNo crows here, but I have met them in America and thought they appeared remarkably intelligent. Talking about making bonds with birds, I once had a thrush who used to always join me when I weeded the garden and hop along right beside me. It would always fly off if it caught sight of anyone else.
ReplyDeleteThat is so good that Miriam is building a relationship with crows, lovely photographs.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Interesting to know that the crows have learned to trust and befriend Miriam.
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful and smart birds.
ReplyDeleteFantastic photos!
Hi David.
ReplyDeleteThese birds are beautiful and very clever!. Hooray for Miriam, her effort is rewarded..
Stunning portraits !
Regards, Maria
Hi David and Miriam - what a special post for us and you - I loved reading it. Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteI love this post! I've no doubt Miriam and her crows have a special bond! I have noticed that our backyard birds seem to recognize us, as they don't fly away as quickly when we approach the feeders. Strangest of all to me are the Blue Jays, who used to fly off at the slightest movement, but now, they seem to linger longer. If only the Cardinals would do the same!
ReplyDelete