It's been a long, long time since I've posted anything. This past semester was particularly grueling and there didn't seem to be time for much of anything.
Yesterday I was walking to the post office, in a hurry. With my ice treads I made my way to the post office, which closes very early in this area. There was quite a commotion in the sky, but I didn't have time to look up. It had to be one of the most intense situations. The crow calls were different. There seemed to be a lot of emotion behind them. I just wish I had had the time to look up. I had made it to the post office two minutes before closing. It made the right decision to keep on going and not look up. But gosh, I wondered what was going on in the sky that day.
Friday, December 25, 2015
Friday, August 14, 2015
Details on the American Crow
"Crows are perhaps the best-known birds on the continent" (Mahnken, 1996). They are large, dark birds, reaching 18 inches in length. They have been described as black, with a purple or green sheen when the sun shines upon them. However, as I stated before, the crows in Grand Forks, North Dakota appear brown in various angels of sunlight. Otherwise, and almost always they appear black. I have not witnessed a sheen of purple or green on them.
Egg laying events occur only once during the breeding season (one brood), and several are laid. Eggs are bluish to olive green and are covered in brown marks. Females will keep the eggs warm for 18 days. Nest are usually built in pine trees toward the top. Nests are big and bulky, with twigs and branches. Most of the nest seems to be arranged in a sloppy, chaotic manner. However, it seems that care goes into the making of the middle of the nest, which is cup-like and lined with soft materials, such as, grass, feathers, dog hair, and deer hair. Crows will pull hairs right out of animals for their nests.
Crows engage in courtship behaviors. However, "courtship among crows begins with fighting in the flock" (Mahnken, 1996). However, things take a turn for the better. "The male walks toward the female, bows, ruffles his feathers, and spread his wings and tail. He lifts his head up and then lowers it. It's all very courtly, and his lady is impressed (Mahnken, 1996).
Crows are known for their mobbing behaviors- "calling on gangs of crows together to harass a large hawk or owl on a perch or drive it out of the area. Catches up to a soaring hawk and repeatedly drives on it from above, often forcing it down into the shelter of trees below" (Alsop, 2001). However, as I've indicated previously, I've never seen this or any type of mobbing behavior in Grand Forks.
Crows eat a variety of foods, which is why the species has persisted well throughout time: "fruit, insects, mammals, fish, carrion, will come to seed and suet feeders" (Tekiela, 2000). Crows can contract avian pox and West Niles disease. West Niles disease can have devastating effects on crow populations. However, overall, the species seems to still be going strong.
Crows are highly intelligent, and very human like. They can use tools and mimic human voices. Crows of one family will pitch in and raise the younger ones:
"A family unit usually includes a mom and dad and several “kids” hatched in previous years, and can include up to 15 birds! They include goofy, immature one-year-olds and some adult sons and daughters. Sometimes these kids stay with their parents for more than five years. In addition to the nuclear family, crow groups sometimes include extended family members such as nephews, brothers, and half-brothers of the mom and dad. We’ve also seen crows “adopt” the kids of unrelated neighbors" (Townsend, 2010).
Crows are fantastic creatures. There is so much more to them that this posting presents, especially language. Much more on language will be coming, in the future!
Sources
. Armstrong, B. Bob Armstrong's Nature Alaska, http://www.naturebob.com/
. Alsop, F.J. (2001). Birds of North America: Eastern Region. DK: New York
. Townsend, A. (2010). The Young and the Restless: Watching Neighborhood Crows, All About Birds. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/the-young-and-the-restless-watching-neighborhood-crows/
. Spruch, G.M. (1983). Such Agreeable Friends: Life with a Remarkable Group of Urban Squirrels. Morrow: New York.
. Tekeiel, S. (2000). Birds of New York: Field Guide. Adventure: Cambridge, MN.
. Manhnken, J. 1996. The Backyard Bird-Lovers Guide: Attracting, Nesting, Feeding. Storey Books: Pownal, Vermont.
Egg laying events occur only once during the breeding season (one brood), and several are laid. Eggs are bluish to olive green and are covered in brown marks. Females will keep the eggs warm for 18 days. Nest are usually built in pine trees toward the top. Nests are big and bulky, with twigs and branches. Most of the nest seems to be arranged in a sloppy, chaotic manner. However, it seems that care goes into the making of the middle of the nest, which is cup-like and lined with soft materials, such as, grass, feathers, dog hair, and deer hair. Crows will pull hairs right out of animals for their nests.
Crows engage in courtship behaviors. However, "courtship among crows begins with fighting in the flock" (Mahnken, 1996). However, things take a turn for the better. "The male walks toward the female, bows, ruffles his feathers, and spread his wings and tail. He lifts his head up and then lowers it. It's all very courtly, and his lady is impressed (Mahnken, 1996).
Crows are known for their mobbing behaviors- "calling on gangs of crows together to harass a large hawk or owl on a perch or drive it out of the area. Catches up to a soaring hawk and repeatedly drives on it from above, often forcing it down into the shelter of trees below" (Alsop, 2001). However, as I've indicated previously, I've never seen this or any type of mobbing behavior in Grand Forks.
Crows eat a variety of foods, which is why the species has persisted well throughout time: "fruit, insects, mammals, fish, carrion, will come to seed and suet feeders" (Tekiela, 2000). Crows can contract avian pox and West Niles disease. West Niles disease can have devastating effects on crow populations. However, overall, the species seems to still be going strong.
Crows are highly intelligent, and very human like. They can use tools and mimic human voices. Crows of one family will pitch in and raise the younger ones:
"A family unit usually includes a mom and dad and several “kids” hatched in previous years, and can include up to 15 birds! They include goofy, immature one-year-olds and some adult sons and daughters. Sometimes these kids stay with their parents for more than five years. In addition to the nuclear family, crow groups sometimes include extended family members such as nephews, brothers, and half-brothers of the mom and dad. We’ve also seen crows “adopt” the kids of unrelated neighbors" (Townsend, 2010).
Crows are fantastic creatures. There is so much more to them that this posting presents, especially language. Much more on language will be coming, in the future!
Crow and Flower- Grand Forks, ND; Taken by Sharon Lee Hudson
Sources
. Armstrong, B. Bob Armstrong's Nature Alaska, http://www.naturebob.com/
. Alsop, F.J. (2001). Birds of North America: Eastern Region. DK: New York
. Townsend, A. (2010). The Young and the Restless: Watching Neighborhood Crows, All About Birds. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/the-young-and-the-restless-watching-neighborhood-crows/
. Spruch, G.M. (1983). Such Agreeable Friends: Life with a Remarkable Group of Urban Squirrels. Morrow: New York.
. Tekeiel, S. (2000). Birds of New York: Field Guide. Adventure: Cambridge, MN.
. Manhnken, J. 1996. The Backyard Bird-Lovers Guide: Attracting, Nesting, Feeding. Storey Books: Pownal, Vermont.
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Memories of a Raven
Many years ago, I once learned that ravens make a GRONK sound. I remember thinking that that was silly and no bird makes a sound like that. Some time later I was walking down a street in Albany, when I heard GRONK. I looked up and there was a raven above me perched on a street light. That was over 14 years ago.
It's hard to put into words how the encounter felt. After all, coming across a bird in general was not unusual for me, but there was something different about this bird. The scene was like something out of a fairy tale. There I was, on the ground. There it was, above me. For a very, very brief point in time, there seemed to be a connection between us.
In pictures, ravens look like large crows. In person, they do not...at least, this one didn't. Books, have nothing on this bird. This bird seemed enormous- rounded beak and all....much larger than the pictures in the book. It happened on a Washington Ave. in Albany, New York, somewhere not far from the state university I was attending as an undergraduate...at some point in time, during a life that no longer exists.
Two types of ravens can be found in the United States. Corvus corax is a term I've often liked...it just sounds catchy, and it's the scientific name for the common raven. I'm not sure why this bird was hanging out in Albany, New York. According to maps, it was certainly out of its range. Its known to roam more toward the middle of New York state, and much further upstate towards Canada. Corvus corax has a very limited range in the eastern half of the United States but can be found in the west from Montana down to New Mexico, and all the way to the western edge of the country. This bird is also found throughout Alaska, Canada, and Mexico. These are year round ranges for this creature.
The common raven likes to build large nests that can be up to 4 feet across. These nest are much more wider than they are deep, as they are only 6 inches tall. But even though they are very short, these ravens take great care in lining their nests using "hair, moss, grasses, and bark shreds" (Mahnken, 1996).
Corvus corax "glides on flat outstretched wings, compared to the slightly V-shaped pattern of Crow. Low raspy call distinguishes the Raven from the higher-pitched Crow" (Tekiela, 2000). According to Alsop (2001) "this magnificent flier is the aerial equal of hawks and falcons and is the largest passerine, or perching bird, in North America."
Corvus crptoleucus, the chihuahuan raven is an interesting flier. "Highly adventuresome, these birds sometimes dive into rotating air masses or dust devils and allow themselves to be taken for an upward ride (Alsop, 2001). Corvus crptoleucus can be found year round in the western half of Texas, Oklahoma (extreme west), Kansas (southwest corner), Colorado (southeast corner), New Mexico (extreme east, extreme south), and Arizona (southeast corner). This creature can also be found in different parts of Mexico as well.
For more on the common raven, please click here.
For more on the chihuahuan raven, please click here.
Sources:
. Mahnken, J. (1996.). The backyard bird-lover's guide. Storey: North Adams, MA.
. Tekeiel, S. (2000). Birds of New York: Field Guide. Adventure: Cambridge, MN.
. Stokes, D., & Stokes, L. (1996). Field Guide to Birds: Eastern Region. Little Brown and Company: New York.
.Alsop, F. J. III (2001). Birds of North America: Eastern Region. New York: DK
. Cornell Lab or Ornithology. chihuahuan raven.
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/chihuahuan_raven/id
. MapsOfTheWorld.com. US Map: State and Capital. http://www.mapsofworld.com/usa/usa-maps/us-map.gif
It's hard to put into words how the encounter felt. After all, coming across a bird in general was not unusual for me, but there was something different about this bird. The scene was like something out of a fairy tale. There I was, on the ground. There it was, above me. For a very, very brief point in time, there seemed to be a connection between us.
In pictures, ravens look like large crows. In person, they do not...at least, this one didn't. Books, have nothing on this bird. This bird seemed enormous- rounded beak and all....much larger than the pictures in the book. It happened on a Washington Ave. in Albany, New York, somewhere not far from the state university I was attending as an undergraduate...at some point in time, during a life that no longer exists.
Two types of ravens can be found in the United States. Corvus corax is a term I've often liked...it just sounds catchy, and it's the scientific name for the common raven. I'm not sure why this bird was hanging out in Albany, New York. According to maps, it was certainly out of its range. Its known to roam more toward the middle of New York state, and much further upstate towards Canada. Corvus corax has a very limited range in the eastern half of the United States but can be found in the west from Montana down to New Mexico, and all the way to the western edge of the country. This bird is also found throughout Alaska, Canada, and Mexico. These are year round ranges for this creature.
The common raven likes to build large nests that can be up to 4 feet across. These nest are much more wider than they are deep, as they are only 6 inches tall. But even though they are very short, these ravens take great care in lining their nests using "hair, moss, grasses, and bark shreds" (Mahnken, 1996).
Corvus corax "glides on flat outstretched wings, compared to the slightly V-shaped pattern of Crow. Low raspy call distinguishes the Raven from the higher-pitched Crow" (Tekiela, 2000). According to Alsop (2001) "this magnificent flier is the aerial equal of hawks and falcons and is the largest passerine, or perching bird, in North America."
Corvus crptoleucus, the chihuahuan raven is an interesting flier. "Highly adventuresome, these birds sometimes dive into rotating air masses or dust devils and allow themselves to be taken for an upward ride (Alsop, 2001). Corvus crptoleucus can be found year round in the western half of Texas, Oklahoma (extreme west), Kansas (southwest corner), Colorado (southeast corner), New Mexico (extreme east, extreme south), and Arizona (southeast corner). This creature can also be found in different parts of Mexico as well.
For more on the common raven, please click here.
For more on the chihuahuan raven, please click here.
Sources:
. Mahnken, J. (1996.). The backyard bird-lover's guide. Storey: North Adams, MA.
. Tekeiel, S. (2000). Birds of New York: Field Guide. Adventure: Cambridge, MN.
. Stokes, D., & Stokes, L. (1996). Field Guide to Birds: Eastern Region. Little Brown and Company: New York.
.Alsop, F. J. III (2001). Birds of North America: Eastern Region. New York: DK
. Cornell Lab or Ornithology. chihuahuan raven.
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/chihuahuan_raven/id
. MapsOfTheWorld.com. US Map: State and Capital. http://www.mapsofworld.com/usa/usa-maps/us-map.gif
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