Howdy, Tweets--

Yesterday I saw a crow launch from his perch 1/3 the way up a tall fir
that was fairly foliage-less 2/3's to the canopy (if that makes any
sense) and buzz a squirrel that was coming down an adjacent tree. The
squirrel went back up and the crow returned to his perch. A couple
minutes later, the scene repeated with the crow going around the tree
chasing the squirrel, which went back up the tree. The third time, very
soon thereafter, the crow launched again and went around the tree chasing
the squirrel, but the squirrel went down instead of up and that seemed to
be the end of it. The crow did not have feet extended like it wanted to
grab the squirrel, but it tired hard to stay with the squirrel as they
went 'round the tree..it almost looked like a game, but we've all seen
crows predate things before, so it made me wonder. I suppose it could
have been trying to keep the squirrel out of the canopy where it probably
has a nest..or who knows what it was doing. I just have never seen a crow
do this particular behavior..

Tom



Tom Foote footet at elwha.evergreen.edu
Lab II
The Evergreen State College (360) 866-6000 x6118
Olympia, WA 98505