I won’t name your route or locale just in the off chance that you were violating some asinine Metro Transit regulation. But, for the driver who spent his layover feeding bits of his sandwich to a flock of corbies today, may your path be free of obstacles and your coach free of douchebags. The guys in black feathers certainly appreciated it and Boy Howdy, so did I.
—Ivan Sonofabitch
This article appears in Jan 28 – Feb 3, 2010.
it better not have been bob and sue and hookbeak…they are my black-eyed beauties
There are about 8 adult birds that live in the trees around my apartment complex in d-mouth. Every Sunday morning when I walk over to Chapters/Starbucks for a double shot of the only 2 vices I have left, I’ve got a bag of chicken skin, pork fat, stale bread, old cheese, date squares, whatever, that I leave on a rock in the woods.
I usually have a winged escort flying in close formation. It’s a cool feeling, especially now that scientists believe that crows have the ability to recognize faces.
Plus they love cursing out my cat when she’s sunbathing on the balcony
excellent, i have been studying them for the last few years…they are indeed extremely intelligent, they recognize my car, voice, face etc. they usually live within a 10 acre area in the city and in the country the never live more than 5k away from humans. they roost at night in one big area up to 200. because i feed them regularly and have made NO ATTEMPT to catch one they hang around in my backyard and i talk to them. and yes they will eat anything but i usually give them peanuts in the shell and they have had quiche, dog treats. its fun to watch them cause they’re watching us. sorry to prattle on
No apologies necessary. It sounds like you have a great sanctuary from the Big Suck. Birds are one of the things I turn to when being a misanthrope just doesn’t cut it anymore. You just cannot be miserable watching them. I used to buy those packs of deli ends and one crow who I named Beaky, (Bravo – very original) would land about 2 feet from me on the way to the rock. I’d toss him a slice of bologna and he’d grab it and keep on hopping, but he’d always ditch it for chicken skin when I dumped the bag.
my crows have so much stuff stashed about the neighborhood(whats with no u) they could live for years i am hoping they have babies in my yard but i don’t think the trees are tall enough. they build really sturdy nests there is one in the front and another on oxford
When they have nestlings they get really territorial. One of the chicks had left the nest and was learning to fly. He had 3 adults flying top cover and buzzing the hell out of anybody walking on the driveway. Including the silly bugger who brought them Sunday brunch. Good parents.
its sooo cold of late i think i will start giving them suet…they had their nuts and bread today but i think they need some fat
I had 2 this morning. They came flying up the driveway 10 feet off the deck like a pair of black cruise missiles. I was humming ‘The Dam Busters March” all the way to Chapters & back. Lots of seniors in the complex, they hang out suet balls and put out seeds and peanuts. Makes me feel less guilty when I don’t have anything for them.
my guys had cheese for breakies and then they and some of their friends chased a hawk around…wow talk about an aerial display
Oh yeah. I’ve seen my crew putting the boots to seagulls or even chasing each other in the most awesome barrel-rolling dogfights since the Battle of Britain. Y’know, I should have titled this Crow Love. Aside from my initial shout-out, poor old bus driver is getting short shrift. Well, the man’s a kindred spirit, even if he don’t know it. Or as Jack Handy once put it, “The crows seemed to be calling his name, thought Caw.”
yeah i forgot…way to go bus drivin guy, we know you love them too