>Dear Tweeters: Perhaps the crows were not hunting the squirrels, but
>rather chasing them away from their nests? Both chipmunks and mice
>destroy the eggs of small birds; perhaps squirrels do, also? Here in
>Bellaire (engulfed by Houston), we have few nesting crows but many
>Blue Jays and Northern Mockingbirds. I have seen both species pursue
>squirrels (usually Fox, rarely E. Grey) along the power lines.
>Although my notes are few, all such events were recorded between April
>and June, which might indicate the birds were protecting their nests.
>
> a Buaidh! FX
>
>F.X. Schloeder "Nature does nothing in excess"
>Bellaire, TX Aristotle
>fx at sprynet.com

Yes, squirrels (and chipmunks and other members of their family) are
well-known nest predators. I can't imagine one having a chance to take a
crow egg, but they certainly do (at least opportunistically) take small
passerine eggs, just another one of the innumerable problems native birds
face with the urbanization of the world.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone 206-756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax 206-756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416