Befriending Crows: A Guide to Building a Relationship with these Intelligent Birds

If there’s one thing you can count on, it’s that crows are everywhere. They’re a familiar sight in parks, gardens, and cities all around the world. But have you ever thought about befriending them? Crows are magnificent creatures, intelligent and very social. In fact, they can recognize and remember individual human faces, and some researchers suggest that they’re even capable of holding grudges against people who have wronged them in the past. If you’re looking to make some new feathered friends, here’s how to make friends with crows.

First, start by offering them some food. Crows are omnivorous and will eat just about anything, including nuts, seeds, insects, and even human food. Find a quiet spot where crows are known to congregate and leave some food out for them. This will let them know that you’re a friendly face and that there’s an easy meal to be had. Over time, you can start to leave food out regularly at the same time and place, and the crows will come to associate you with their next meal. But remember, never feed them anything that’s bad for their health, like bread or junk food.

Section 1: Understanding Crows

1. What are Crows?

Crows belong to the Corvid family, which includes jays, ravens, and magpies. Crows are intelligent birds that are known for their intelligence, problem-solving skills, and complex communication. They are found all over the world and are generally considered to be adaptable and resilient. Crows are known for their loud calls, which are often heard in the early morning and late afternoon.

2. The Benefits of Making Friends with Crows

Making friends with crows can be a fun and rewarding experience. Crows are highly intelligent birds that are capable of recognizing individual human faces. If you make friends with a crow, it may come to your backyard regularly to visit you. You can also learn a lot about crow behavior and communication by observing them up close.

3. Myths and Misconceptions about Crows

Crows are often associated with death and are considered to be ominous birds. However, this is largely based on myth and superstition. In reality, crows are highly intelligent and social birds. They are not aggressive towards humans and are actually quite curious and playful.

4. Feeding Crows

Feeding crows can be a great way to make friends with them. However, it is important to feed them the right foods. Crows are omnivores and will eat a variety of foods including insects, grains, fruits, and vegetables. However, it is important to avoid feeding them junk food or food that is high in salt, sugar, or fat.

5. Creating a Safe Space for Crows

Crows are shy birds and may be hesitant to approach humans if they feel unsafe. To create a safe space for crows, avoid sudden movements or loud noises that might scare them away. You can also create a feeding station or birdhouse to attract them to your yard.

6. Understanding Crow Behavior

Understanding crow behavior is key to making friends with them. Crows are highly social birds that live in large family groups known as murders. They are also highly intelligent and are capable of using tools and communicating with each other using a variety of calls and gestures.

7. Communicating with Crows

Communicating with crows is not as difficult as it may seem. To communicate with crows, simply make eye contact with them and make soft clicking or whistling sounds. You can also offer them food as a way of establishing a connection.

8. Building Trust with Crows

Building trust with crows takes time and patience. To build trust with crows, start by offering them food from a distance and gradually move closer. You can also leave small gifts for them such as shiny objects or nuts.

9. Respecting Crows and their Habitat

Respecting crows and their habitat is important if you want to make friends with them. This means avoiding littering or disturbing their nests. It also means not trapping or harming them in any way.

10. Final Thoughts

Making friends with crows can be a fun and rewarding experience. By understanding their behavior and communication, you can establish a connection with these highly intelligent and social birds. Remember to always respect their habitat and treat them with kindness and you will have a lifetime of beautiful experiences with your new crow friends.

How to Attract Crows to Your Yard

Crows are social creatures and are drawn to areas where they can find other crows or sources of food. Here are some tips on how to attract crows to your yard:

1. Provide Water: Crows need to drink and bathe, so having a bird bath or shallow bowl of water can attract them to your yard.

2. Offer Food: Crows are omnivorous and will eat a variety of foods including seeds, nuts, fruits, insects, small animals, and carrion. You can offer them food by putting out unshelled peanuts, sunflower seeds, and suet.

3. Create a Feeding Station: Crows are intelligent birds and can learn to recognize areas where they can find food. To create a feeding station, place food in a tray or platform feeder in a visible location in your yard.

4. Build a Roosting Site: Crows roost in trees at night and during the winter. You can build a roosting site by providing tall trees with large branches or building a crow roost box.

5. Be Consistent: Once you start feeding the crows, it’s important to be consistent. Crows will learn to rely on a food source and will continue to visit your yard regularly.

6. Offer Variety: Crows like a variety of foods, so it’s important to mix up what you offer. Try offering different types of seeds, fruits, and nuts to keep them coming back.

7. Don’t Feed Too Much: While it’s important to provide food for the crows, it’s also important not to overfeed them. Too much food can attract other animals or cause health problems for the crows.

8. Avoid Chemicals: Use natural, organic foods and avoid using pesticides or chemicals in your yard. These can harm not only the crows but also other animals and insects.

9. Be Patient: It may take time before the crows start visiting your yard regularly. Be patient and consistent with your efforts.

10. Enjoy the Company: Once the crows start visiting your yard, enjoy watching their antics and interactions with each other. Crows are highly intelligent and entertaining birds that can provide hours of enjoyment.

Myths and Legends about Crows

There are many myths and legends about crows and their mystical powers. Here are some of the most common ones:

The Trickster

One of the most prevalent myths is that of the crow as a trickster. Many cultures around the world have stories of the crow as a cunning, mischievous character who outsmarts others. For example, in Native American mythology, the crow is often portrayed as a trickster who can shape-shift into human form and cause mischief.

The Messenger

Crows are also often associated with messages from beyond. In some cultures, it is believed that crows are messengers from the spirit world or the gods. In Norse mythology, the god Odin has two crows named Huginn and Muninn who act as his messengers and travel the world to bring him news.

Bad Omen

Unfortunately, crows have also been associated with bad omens and death in many cultures. In some European cultures, if a crow lands on a house, it is believed to be a sign that someone in the household will soon die. In India, crows are seen as a bad omen and are associated with death and mourning.

Intelligence

Despite their reputation in some cultures, crows are incredibly intelligent birds. They have been known to use tools, solve puzzles, and even remember human faces. In fact, some scientists believe that crows may be one of the most intelligent animals on the planet.

Pop Culture

Crows have also made appearances in popular culture, from Edgar Allan Poe’s iconic poem “The Raven” to the crow named “Mystique” in the X-Men comics. They are often used to symbolize death and sadness, but can also represent intelligence, mystery, and trickery.

In conclusion, understanding the myths and legends surrounding crows can help us appreciate these fascinating birds even more. While they may have a reputation for being mischievous or associated with death, they are also incredibly intelligent and have a rich history in cultures around the world. So if you’re interested in making friends with crows, take the time to learn about them and their place in the world.

Make Some New Feathered Friends Today!

We hope this article has inspired you to forge a friendship with some of our smart and curious avian neighbors. Remember, building a relationship with crows takes time and effort, but the rewards are well worth it. From mimicking their calls to leaving small offerings of food, there are many ways to show these incredible birds that you are a friend, not a foe. Thank you for reading, and be sure to check back for more tips on connecting with nature in the future!