If you're gonna be bird-brained, be a crow
By: Judi Stuart
Port Discover: Visitor Services Manager
Because of the weather, our bird food bill is larger
than our people food bill this month. We enjoyed watching all the wildlife come
to our cafeteria in the backyard.
Every elevated surface was covered in seed or corn
after the storm. The suet feeders were especially busy with the aggressive
diners.
A day passed before the red-winged blackbirds
discovered the feast. No doubt, you experienced the same thing if you fed the
flocks of hungry marauders. As I watched, I wondered what the difference was
between blackbirds, crows, and ravens.
When I think about black birds in general, I
associate them with Poe’s “nevermore” raven, the legendary guardians at the
Tower of London, the ominous crows in the movie “Cold Mountain,” or even the
cartoon characters Heckle and Jeckle.
Crows, ravens, magpies, rooks, jackdaws and
approximately 120 other species belong to the family Corvidae. The Red-winged
blackbirds belong to the Thrush family and are smaller and less intelligent than
crows.
Throughout history, crows have sometimes been viewed
as omens of bad luck, death, and evil. In Sweden, they were believed to be the
ghosts of murdered people, but in Greece and Rome they were symbols of good
fortune.
Because they will attack and kill a dying member of
their flock, a group of crows is called a murder. Another strange behavior is
that in early times they would gather at the site of public executions.
Scientists have become increasingly interested in
the capabilities of crows and have done extensive research and discovered that
they possess a variety of amazing talents. They have now been recognized as
being more intelligent than members of the ape family.
Among birds, they have the biggest brain-to-body
ratio, and they have a highly developed forebrain similar to humans. They can
count to six and are believed to sunbathe to acquire vitamin D.
In 2010, PBS produced “A Murder of Crows,” a video
that explores the startling research. The scientists discovered that crows could
recognize human faces, remember what they had seen, pass information to their
young, and could make tools of leaves and twigs.
While they do not have the biggest brain, that honor
belongs to the parrot, they are tricksters and wise guys. They increasingly find
urban living more to their liking because the resources for food and places to
hide it are better.
These omnivores will eat 1,000 different food items
including carrion, small animals, human vomit, and french fries. Nestlings can
eat 100 grasshoppers in an hour. Crow meat is edible and is considered much
healthier than pork.
Some scientists believe that crows can evaluate the
character of humans by observing their faces and expressions. They can bond with
humans and imitate their voices and have been known to name humans with certain
calls.
So the next time someone calls you a “bird brain,”
make sure they are talking about a crow.
(Source: www.allaboutbirds.org)
