Feeding ravens and crows
Fishpiggle
Washington, and there are lots of these guys around. (I believe they are
ravens, but I'm very new at identifying and feeding birds, so I'm not quite
sure.) I think they are wonderful birds, and I would very much enjoy feeding
them. A website I looked at recommended meat scraps and dog food as good
crow-attractors, but I'm concerned about also attracting the local
free-range dogs (there are no fences, and the neighbors aren't very
responsible about their dogs) and perhaps other undesirables. Does anybody
have suggestions?
Thanks!
Fishpiggle
JANISCLARK
>Washington, and there are lots of these guys around. (I believe they are
>ravens, but I'm very new at identifying and feeding birds, so
Hi,
my first suggestion is that you consider buying a good field guide or two. I
use mine all the time even though I know most of the birds here, I still
sometimes see a new one.
For corvids (that is the family of crows and ravens and jays), I would suggest
a feeding platform. Something flat with a short lip around it to keep the food
there and wide enough for the birds to have landing room. Remember, these are
all large birds. Then you can keep the food up and away from dogs.
The biggest difference between crows and ravens, is the raven has a hooked
upper beak where the crows tend to have a more straight beak. Ravens also tend
to be larger birds.
They are omnivores so will enjoy both seeds (sunflower, whole corn,
peanuts,cracked walnuts etc) and some protein items like the dogfood kibble.
They are major scavengers so tend to eat a wide variety based on what is
available.
Good luck,
Janis
Mary MacTavish
>They are omnivores so will enjoy both seeds (sunflower, whole corn,
>peanuts,cracked walnuts etc) and some protein items like the dogfood kibble.
Crows in Sacramento sit in walnut trees over parked cars. As cars
drive away, they fly down and eat the meats of any crushed nuts. Then
they fly back up and wait for another car to leave.
I love corvids :)
.
Mary MacTavish
http://www.prado.com/~iris
Kaybearjr
(I believe they are>ravens, but I'm very new at identifying and feeding birds,
so I'm not quite
>sure.)
In flight, a raven has a diamond-shaped tail. The crow's tail is straighter
across the end...
The beak is quite heavy, compared to a crow, and the raven has shiny,
ruffled-looking feathers.
Perched, it may be noticed that the raven has a rather
higher, rounded skull...
>I think they are wonderful birds, and I would very much enjoy feeding>them.
Ravens and crows have become suspicious and distrustful of humans. Local ravens
usually fly away when I throw scraps toward them...than the scrub jays dart in
and grab what was intended for the ravens...
Fishpiggle
news:3a890b2a...@nntp3.tsoft.net...
> On 08 Feb 2001 20:59:02 GMT, janis...@aol.com (JANISCLARK) said:
>
> >They are omnivores so will enjoy both seeds (sunflower, whole corn,
> >peanuts,cracked walnuts etc) and some protein items like the dogfood
kibble.
Great ideas -- thanks Janis, Mary, and the others who are replying!
>
> Crows in Sacramento sit in walnut trees over parked cars. As cars
> drive away, they fly down and eat the meats of any crushed nuts. Then
> they fly back up and wait for another car to leave.
Heh -- our place is surrounded by walnut trees, and the crows sit up there
and drop the shells. They make quite a CRACK! hitting the ground. Either the
birds are dropping the shells to break them open, or they're somehow opening
them up there and dropping the empties. (I haven't been able to get a good
enough look at this while it's happening.) They've given us a good start
more than once.
> I love corvids :)
Me too! We moved here recently, and I never had crows around before. I'm
really enjoying it.
Regards,
Fishpiggle
Susan in WA
> Either the birds are dropping the shells to break them open, or they're
> somehow opening
> them up there and dropping the empties. (I haven't been able to get a good
> enough look at this while it's happening.) They've given us a good start
> more than once.
>
Ever tried to open a walnut with its green sheath still on? Darned near
impossible. Crows around here (other side of the Cascades) do the same
thing...they drop the walnuts on the road and wait for the cars to run over
them. Crows are smart. I don't personally recommend trying to feed them,
though, as they may drive away the more desirable songbirds. Or at least feed
them further away from your regular feeders.
Also, be prepared: if you are feeding birds, you are liable to attract birds
that feed on other birds (hawks). It's a fascinating process to watch.
--
Susan in WA
Puget Sound Region
RCox1951
criticism about feeding crows, etc. I'm glad that no one responded that way.
I, too, admire corvids; and think that they are just as deserving of our care
as all the other birds that we feed.
Roger Cox
Work at Home!
with YOUR OWN
Automated Home Business!
www.wealthbuildingonline.com/rc
Paul J. Wolsko
savvy to avoid people is o.k. in my book. Every morning, as I get in my car
to begin the "rat race" I hear them in the trees, apparently razzing my
foolish pattern of life. ALL birds welcome at our feeders, as it should be.
I just wish the starlings would wash off the vinyl siding. <g>
Paul Wolsko
NJ
"RCox1951" <rcox...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20010210152016...@ng-md1.aol.com...
Susan in WA
> Look at it this way - any bird that is as smart of the crow and has the
> savvy to avoid people is o.k. in my book. Every morning, as I get in my car
> to begin the "rat race" I hear them in the trees, apparently razzing my
> foolish pattern of life. ALL birds welcome at our feeders, as it should be.
> I just wish the starlings would wash off the vinyl siding. <g>
>
Hmmm...I don't get crows at my feeders, but I get plenty of Brewer's Blackbirds,
Red-winged Blackbirds, and Brown-headed Cowbirds (all of them by the dozens).
Good thing I have lots of feeders so I have room for the other birds.
Paul J. Wolsko
crows stop by the platform feeder which I've got mounted on a pole.
Paul
"Susan in WA" <smut...@qwest.net> wrote in message
news:3A86064D...@qwest.net...
marcus
and crows) --- but ---- if you are in area where there have been West Nile
disease outbreaks, it is probably a very bad idea to do anything to attract
crows. In a laboratory setting last fall, uninfected crows developed West
Nile when put in a cage with infected crows. In other words, apparently,
there was bird-to-bird transmission.
Marcus in Vermont
KrisHur
Sent via Deja.com
http://www.deja.com/
John
seeds, scraps of bread, muffins, etc, popcorn. Especially this winter
with all the snow cover we have had - I've been putting out bread for
the crows
--
John C.
Seekonk, Massachusetts
Steve Miller
crows caw, and that ravens make more of a croaking sound.
Crows are nifty critters, and have had a lot of
interesting things written about them. Poems, songs,archaic relgious
beleifs..The old tune celtic tune "Twa Corbies" is about two carrion
crows.Indigeneous Americans (I beleive) wrote that at one time the crow
was white,but failed the gods in a task, and was cursed with the black
semblance
Did you know a flock of crows is called a muder of crows? I
think(if I recall correctly) That ravens are "an unkindness",though my
source may be questionable.Sorry,I get gong on about thngs like that,
and talk too much.
Jerry
Kaybearjr
>I dont know a whole lot about them science wise, but I do know that>crows caw,
and that ravens make more of a croaking sound.
Standing close to a raven in a tree, I could see that the croaking sound occurs
when its throat expands like a tom turkey gobbling.
It sounds something like somebody playing a hardwood drum...
bink evans
"Jerry" <wax...@theramp.net> wrote in message
news:3A88531A...@theramp.net...
> I think it's a "rant of ravens".
>
>
A Collection of Ravens is called "An Unkindness". Kind regards from
U>K. ---Arthur Evans
Steve Miller
My greatgrandfather had a Crow that he taught to speak in German,and it
had(from what Im told)one phrase in english, "here comes the damn
butcher"...Dont ask,it has something to do with My G.Granpa disliking
the butcher.