Farewell my friends the crows.

 

For over a decade my back garden has hosted each and every day a pair of crows and each day, including and perhaps especially during the months of lock-down, I have enjoyed their company and, at pretty regular times, provided some small food treats for them. 

At first they were very nervous of me and would fly away at the first sign I was approaching, and unlike any of the other birds, would often react to what was happening on my side of the window. They also showed me that crows know how to make dry food more palatable by dunking it carefully in the handily-provided water baths on the lawn before eating it. Is this tool-use? I think it probably is.

They also regularly scattered the other smaller birds by very deliberately 'buzzing' them as they came into land on the grass. There was also some rivalry with the local magpies and, whilst the latter seemed more agile, the crows were clearly in charge. 

One was tall with longer legs and I fancied this was the female (although I was not sure), the other a little more squat and heavily built. They were, however, clearly a pair and one year they produced three fledglings and they brought them all into the garden. I was away at the time and missed the tragic discovery of all three youngsters suddenly being found dead one morning. There were no wounds and their deaths remain a mystery. This was several years ago and no youngsters have been seen with the adults since.

One of the two was hurt by Storm Hannah in 2019, returning to the garden with a noticeable limp after the storm but this eventually wore off and he (or she) returned to full health. 

And they kept visiting, day and after day, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, and usually when I went out onto the lawn to leave some food,  I could spot one or both of them either waiting in one of the nearby trees or up on the ridge tiles. One would typically call to other in that distinctive harsh voice that crows have. 

Then, abruptly, a few weeks back they were gone and have not been seen since. 

After such a regular attendance through the years, my fear is that they have both died or been killed. They must have been quite old birds by now but for both to suddenly disappear seems suspicious. Another possible explanation is that the new housing development on the fields where they used to forage near my home has displaced them. I prefer that interpretation, but I miss them.

What I liked best about them is the clear intelligence shining in their eyes. You can I think see it in a couple of the photos here. I also believe that they came to know me and, whist they remained cautious, they were less wary.