Something to Crow About

 April 10, 2021

   Since our devastating fire, I certainly have a new appreciation for crows. We have two who visit us almost every day. Some have postulated they are actually ravens, but I discovered the two—ravens and crows—are part of the Crovids family which includes rooks, jackdaws, jays, magpies, treepies, coughs and nutcrackers. Such hilarious monikers. Bottom line: even their variations are clever.

    Earlier this week, I spied one of them perched on a burnt saguaro stalk to the south of us and decided I needed to go out and capture him on paper, at least.

Daily Whip Out: "The Crow Has Landed"

   It was Juni Fisher who got me interested in what the crows were trying to say. If you've ever heard a crow cawing, they are quite insistent about something and according to Juni, it's our job to listen and figure it out.

Daily Whip Out: "Cactus Crow"

 Something to Crow About

   Did you know crows (English magpies) can actually recognize themselves in mirrors?

Daily Whip Out: "Well, Hello Handsome!"

   Did you know crows make their own tools? 

   Did you know crows play elaborate social games, like "King of The Mountain" and "Follow the Leader"? Did you know crows enjoy sliding down slippery surfaces?

   Did you know their favorite dishes include bread, spaghetti, fried potatoes, chile (green), dog food, sandwiches and livestock feed? Not to mention roadkill, cutworms, grasshoppers and "harmful weeds"? 

   Did you know crows not only outperform dogs in cognitive tests, but they then taunt the dogs for being so inferior?

   Did you know crows have elaborate grieving rituals where they lay grass wreaths over the dead body of someone they loved? 

   Did you know a clever crow was observed leaving nuts in a crosswalk so that passing cars would crack the nuts and then when the light turned red, the crow would go out to retrieve the cracked nuts until the light turned green and then he retreated and waited for the next light?

   Did you know crows laugh at scarecrows and perch on them and use them for hunting platforms to mock farmers?

   Did you know crows have excellent memories and often bring gifts to people who have been kind to them? Including jewelry found on the ground!

   Did you know the Crow tribe is literally named for "the children of the big-beaked bird"?

   Did you know crows can recognize you, and they sometimes will give you a special name and your own special caw?

Daily Whip Out: "Something to Crow About"

"Caw, Caw, Caw—Triple C—Meet BBB"

—One Crazy Crow I Know

Special Bonus Crow Humor Quote

"It's only a murder of crows if there's probable caws."

—Old Crow Saying