Invasion of the Crow


I've posted pictures of crows before but am finding them ever fascinating lately. And tonight--after just recovering from a cold and feeling I needed some air--went for a walk on a foggy evening at dusk and took a few more photos. I'm not sure if I'm just noticing them these last couple years but they seem to have multiplied in our area (or possibly migrated) by multitudes. At dawn and dusk in certain areas of the city they are virtually everywhere..hundreds--thousands--perched on every possible thing or flying from one to another. And caw..cawing to each other in their own special language. What I think is really interesting (and a bit scary) is how smart they are...here's a little info from the PBS website:

New research has shown that they are among the most intelligent animals on the planet. They use tools as only elephants and chimpanzees do, and recognize 250 distinct calls. One particular talent they have been discovered to possess is the ability to recognize individual human faces and pick them out of a crowd up to two years later – a trick that might make even Hitchcock shiver with fright.

And let me just reiterate one sentence:

One particular talent they have been discovered to possess is the ability to recognize individual human faces and pick them out of a crowd up to two years later. 


I've been taking pictures of these birds for the last couple of years and only recently learned of their above said intelligence...but have always felt like they are looking back at me. Look at the one above...sort of makes the little hairs on the back of my neck stand up...hopefully they realize I am their friend and not foe.

To read a bit more about them at the PBS site, click here.





Urban Simplicity.

Comments

Nick said…
Intelligent crows? Now THAT's scary! I've never felt good about them since Hitchcock took them as a subject - and round our way (in NL) there are thousands of them, known in our household as Dutch vultures.
Joe said…
Nick...I agree it is scary. And I like their name in Holland...Dutch vultures.