Tag Archive for 'American Crow'

Craven Postscript

Published on June 13, 2011 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: .

Shortly after my last blog post and late into the the nesting season, Craven found a mate. This glossy delicate black beauty appeared from nowhere and they began their courtship in our back garden. Together they would perch in the bare fig tree, cooing and purring to one another. Craven would solicit preening from this new crow on the block, one-third of his size, by sidling up next to her on a branch and bowing and ducking his head. She would oblige by preening his back and crown. Long moments were spent with particular attention paid to the top of his ratty head. Perhaps she was attempting to remove the white sprinkling of feathers that dominated his crown. Long weeks of worn, tattered loneliness seem to fade away as she preened and groomed his less-than-attractive plumage.

Once she felt that his turn was over, she would hop and glide to a new branch to solicit attention from him. But his long-term solitude and worn appearance seemed to push him to beg for more grooming. With infinite patience, she would continue sprucing up his squalid pelage. Again she would ask for a turn and again his plaintiff mutterings would turn her back to the task of grooming.

After a few days of this she turned him to the task at hand and began gathering sticks and presenting them to him. Soon he got the idea and together they selected only the finest sticks and branches from trees in the neighborhood. Despite the lateness of the season it appeared as though the were on their way to making a nest in the last remaining “vacant” tree near the front of our home.

Craven quickly introduced his new mate to us and the two of them would walk the rail of the deck. She demurely hung back as he boldly walked to and fro. Treats were provided for both and the tradition began of two crows greeting us each day in the early hours of the morning and as we arrived home at the end of each day.

Although their choice to nest is late in the season, the spring has been delayed and good weather seems to be just around the corner. Perhaps they will succeed in raising a family. We will be curious to see whether they will be dark, glossy, and petite like their mother or the will take after their father, Craven, and be large and bold with a bit of white.

Craven

Published on May 23, 2011 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Our tiny urban garden is often the refuge for a parade of odd or injured wild creatures. I am unsure of what lures these characters to our home… perhaps it is the easy availability of food, water, and shelter in a otherwise typically barren cityscape. Or perhaps the fact that our cats can only watch safely from inside the home, but whatever the reason – here they have chosen to grace our garden with their unique presence.

There was “Red” the gimpy, rufous-colored Eastern Gray Squirrel who ran sideways and sported only half a tail. Or Mary Joe the Western Scrub Jay with half a mandible, a broken leg, and a slightly damaged wing. Her mate fed and cared for her for months as she remained steadfastly within the bounds of our garden. There was the winter of the three Mountain Chickadees hundreds of miles from their northern mountainous habitat happily zzeee, zzeee, zzeeing at the suet feeder.

Our most recent guest is an American Crow. But oh no, not just any crow – he is unique in many ways. Slightly larger than the neighborhood crows, with a heavier bill, and a tail more rounded than square. He looks like a cross between a crow and a raven. Thus was born his moniker – Craven. His odd appearance doesn’t just stop at size and shape, he also sports white wing patches and a tattered sprinkling of white on the crown of his head.

Perhaps it is Craven’s odd appearance that makes him the outcast of the neighborhood although we think his superbly unique personality may contribute to his status. While all the other crows on our street and throughout Seattle have settled down with a mate, built their nests and are now dutifully incubating eggs – Craven is the constant loner. His very appearance on the roof of a home nearby will set off the territoriality anger of any nearby crow pair. They will instantly begin diving from great heights straight at Craven – as if to pluck each white feather from his head. If he lands on the local apartment building and no crows issue a scolding; he will call at the top of his lungs with deep croaks till they drop their crow errands and come bolting out after him.

Oh, and Craven is most definitely a male. Recently I spied him consorting (quite literally) with the “neighbor’s” wife in broad daylight in a drive way. His white wing patches flashing in the light – a beacon to the corvid husband that he needed to get back to the nest… and soon.

Released from nesting duties, his daily routines center around our home. Each morning he ‘ll greet us as we enjoy our coffee on the deck. He will walk slowly around the top of the fence line, across the porch roof and circle down to the deck railing. Final stop will be at the platform feeder, where he dangles and balances while casting imploring glances in our general direction. If no peanuts are forthcoming, he will saunter off down 62nd Avenue. Walking slowly first east and then returning west down the street, never bothering with the sidewalk, picking up what urban offal might be in the offing.

Showing all the traits of a good corvid, he recognizes our vehicles. Parking in front of the house, we’re always greeted by his low croaks as he flies in – perching first on the front porch as we collect the mail, then sweeping into the fencepost as we open the side gate. He ‘ll accompany us through the side yard and wait patiently on the cottage roof… in hopes that we’ll remember a treat or two once we go inside.

Recently, the skies opened up and a torrential downpour fell for hours, drenching all of Washington. Craven was soaked to his hollow bones by 7:00am. We were concerned, as thick sheltering trees are a rarity in this urban landscape and they are all staked out and highly guarded by the nesting pairs of crows. Truly there was no shelter for this corvid outcast. As the day and the rains droned on his appearance become more and more bedraggled. No shelter and no mate to preen his matted feathers had left him looking the worse for wear. The next morning dawned gray and dry, but Craven was no where to be seen. Concerned that one more of our odd parade of wild creatures had succumbed to an ill fate I kept an eye out for him. Giving up any hope when he didn’t show for breakfast I left to run errands. But upon my return, who was there to greet me at the gate but a shabby and very much alive Craven!

So we will continue to share our garden with this corvid character, enjoying his antics as he riles the neighbors and look forward to more “oddballs” in the future.

A Moment in Nature

Published on July 2, 2010 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

A great cacophony of sound filled the forest. Robins and crows were going mad with alarm and cries of distress. Following the chorus of sound along the North Loop Trail of Discovery Park, I watched in amazement as a Barred Owl flew into a maple, feet from the trail, with a robin grasped in its talons. Convinced that the owl would only be hunting during the day to feed its young I remained stationary, waiting and watching. Surely it would take the prey to its nest. I watched in amazement as it slowly plucked and fed upon this huge meal. Bit by bit it disappeared, till the last foot slid out of sight. Apparently today the meal was meant for the adult only. But still I waited until the owl cleaned its beak against a branch rousted its feathers and settled in for a mid-morning nap.

Meanwhile my attention was being pulled toward tiny begging sounds issuing from the forest on the south side of the trail. Who is so hungry? Following the cries, looking for movement I discovered a nest filled with Hairy Woodpecker young. The adults were working frantically, carrying insects back to the cavity in a snag to stuff the greedy young with essential protein.

All in all a fantastic moment of “wild” in Discovery Park – but the most remarkable thing about the whole experience was watching wave after wave of park visitors streaming by without any inkling of the life and death drama that surrounded them. Families taking a stroll, a hiking group socializing, joggers exercising, and dog walkers enjoying their canine company. All oblivious to the begging of young woodpeckers, waves of Wilson’s Warblers filling the canopy, the Barred Owl’s brunch, the fringecup blooming trailside and the wonder of the natural world surrounding them. It is much like choosing a fine dining establishment to enjoy the ambiance, drink in the fine aroma then not partaking of the excellent cuisine.

Birders as a general rule are very aware people, alert to the sounds and sights around them. Birdwatching lends itself to a heightened sense of awareness. Without this connection to the natural world, we would miss the next life bird, an interesting behavior or the simple beauty of a Western Tanager returning from its winter hiatus. As city dwellers and creatures of a modern lifestyle, our senses have become dulled in order to survive the continual onslaught of sights, sounds and smells of our harried lives. In order to get back in touch with our senses and truly experience the natural world a focused moment will help.

Choose a quiet place in a neighborhood park. Sit and relax on a bench and take a moment just to look. How many different birds will you see and hear? Suddenly realize how many shades of greens are in a forest habitat. Lean down squeeze a Bleeding Heart leaf, then smell the light scent of powdered donuts. Run your hand gently over the bark of a cedar, then contrast its texture with the gnarled rough thick bark of the Douglas fir. Expand your quest to reestablish a natural relationship by choosing a different habitat. The beach at low tide is filled with ample opportunities. Crouch quietly next to a tide pool and as if by magic a new world will appear. The tiny legs of the barnacles are kicking away bringing food into the protective shell. Tidepool sculpins completely camouflaged when still, will begin to swim and reveal their locations. Shells will suddenly become hermit crabs skittering among the rocks. Gently touch an anemone and marvel at their soft fragility. Pet a sea star and discover their rough outer layer.

By awakening your senses through focused effort you will soon discover an open door through which many discoveries will come to you naturally. Then and only then will you be as fortunate as a recent group of birding by ear class participants – together we were alerted to the presence of an Anna’s Hummingbird by her quiet ticking sounds and rapid movements.

Pausing our walk, we watched as she gathered a spider web. A moment later she took the silk back to her tiny camouflaged nest barely five feet over the trail. This natural magic and more awaits you once the senses have been awakened.