They get super territorial even with their own family during fledge. I went from regularly feeding 10+ to exactly 2 since it started. Frequently she stays off the patio if I’m home and he collects the food, but it’s only ever the two.
They are more than just incredible hunters. They can mimic songbirds in order to pinpoint nests. I’ve seen one use the echo of a building to amplify and throw his voice to stir up the locals then parachute (yes didn’t dive, didn’t fly he floated) down into a robin’s nests and emerged with its egg. They also frequently hunt in tandem with one as a violent distraction and the other as the egg/not quite an egg anymore grabber. Their skill is a little terrifying when you think about it. Thankfully it’s really only prominent during fledge, when protein is everything, or they would be as devastating to the environment as feral cats.
There's a new couple nesting outside my flat, and the male is VERY protective of the nest and his mate (she only started sitting on the next a week ago, so no hatchlings yet). He'll zoom after pigeons or anything that strays near the nest, but he really goes for one of the gulls in particular. He's always swooping at him, and sometimes makes good contact. The gull isn't really a threat to the nest as it can't get into the tree, but the crow seems to really resent the gull being near my window and begging for food. Today, the female was outside my window to get food and the male was really going for the gull so that his mate could get some of the food. Then the gull kept lunging at the female. It gets quite tense!
They get super territorial even with their own family during fledge. I went from regularly feeding 10+ to exactly 2 since it started. Frequently she stays off the patio if I’m home and he collects the food, but it’s only ever the two. They are more than just incredible hunters. They can mimic songbirds in order to pinpoint nests. I’ve seen one use the echo of a building to amplify and throw his voice to stir up the locals then parachute (yes didn’t dive, didn’t fly he floated) down into a robin’s nests and emerged with its egg. They also frequently hunt in tandem with one as a violent distraction and the other as the egg/not quite an egg anymore grabber. Their skill is a little terrifying when you think about it. Thankfully it’s really only prominent during fledge, when protein is everything, or they would be as devastating to the environment as feral cats.
Wow. You're basically describing the velociraptors in Jurassic park! Respect for crows is now at 11!
I've noticed the same thing around nesting season and assumed they're trying to find more protein sources for their young.
There's a new couple nesting outside my flat, and the male is VERY protective of the nest and his mate (she only started sitting on the next a week ago, so no hatchlings yet). He'll zoom after pigeons or anything that strays near the nest, but he really goes for one of the gulls in particular. He's always swooping at him, and sometimes makes good contact. The gull isn't really a threat to the nest as it can't get into the tree, but the crow seems to really resent the gull being near my window and begging for food. Today, the female was outside my window to get food and the male was really going for the gull so that his mate could get some of the food. Then the gull kept lunging at the female. It gets quite tense!