Crow and raven photographer, celebrating nature, usually in an urban setting
Well, I’m afraid the crow news has entirely gotten away on me. Each time I go outside, there are new things to report on, but finding the time needed to get it all written down eludes me. I could use a crack team of crow correspondents to keep up with it all! So, for no … Continue reading Fearless Fred Newsflash
Having watched Norm and Nancy work so hard at the nesting game, spring after spring, with not a single fledgling to show for it, I’ve been thrilled to see them now parenting two little ones. Now, admittedly, they may be wondering what the heck they signed up for—a common phenomenon among first-time parents. I have … Continue reading Success At Last!
The nesting season started early this year, with spring about a month ahead of schedule in the Pacific Northwest. Many crow pairs already have fledglings out and about, learning all about the pleasures and pitfalls of life outside of the nest. About half of the early nesters had something go awry with that first effort, … Continue reading Bill and Earl Nesting News
It’s an especially tense time on Nest Watch at the moment. Some local crows are getting close to having fledglings leave the nest, while others, having lost the first nest, are starting all over again, searching for twigs and moss to rebuild in another location. Overhead, the local bald eagles and hawks are hunting, pursued … Continue reading Nesting Chronicles — May 20
Nesting season is fully underway once again, and, as usual, things are going more smoothly for some crows than for others. My next post will give a rundown on how individual crows are doing, but today I’m thinking about the general crow strategies for a successful nesting season. This pivotal period requires some serious tactical … Continue reading Nesting News
Young Syd represents the newest generation in the Earl and Echo dynasty. She’s one of several crows born in this area last spring who’ve stayed over winter, hanging out with their extended family and learning from their elders. Earl and Echo are venerable crows, progenitors to many local crow characters. Their offspring include Dennis (born … Continue reading Young Syd and Family
I know many of my neighbours by name. Having lived in the same house for over thirty years, I’ve walked these streets for countless hours; sometimes pushing strollers, sometimes walking a succession of dogs, sometimes both at once. Over those years, I’ve come to know many of my human neighbours. Many of us have raised … Continue reading What’s In A Name?
Most of the adult crows are currently immersed in all things nest-related. Younger crows, like Lou, who have remained with their parents for a year or two, are often designated “nest helpers.” Lou’s nest-helping forté seems to be hanging out on the eastern territorial border, keeping an eye out for Norman and Nancy (the neighbouring … Continue reading Lou’s Pastimes
Bill is one of my more recent crow acquaintances. As you can see from his photograph, he’s pretty easy to pick out from other crows because of his spectacular beak. The overgrowth of the top beak is caused by a virus — AKD or Avian Keratin Disorder. An over-production of keratin causes the beak to … Continue reading Bill’s Beak
The torrential rain we experienced on our little Sea to Sky vacation continued to pour down once we arrived home. Meteorologists now refer to these super-wet weather patterns as atmospheric rivers. It felt, last week, as if I was spending about a third of my waking hours … (a) getting the dog and me suitably … Continue reading Atmospheric Crows