Part of the problem comes from great expectations. The field guides tell
us that there is a species called "Northwestern Crows". Armed with this
expectation, we go looking for a difference. One is inclined to pay attention
maybe a bit too closely; notice size differrences, flocking behaviors,
call anomalies...

If you pull out your copy of _Biosystematics of American Crows_, you'll
discover that there's a smallish population of crows in Southern California,
but there's no "Southwestern Crow" in the field guides... hmmmm.

Before we start quantifying behavior differences between species (as opposed
to population differences), maybe we should get out the serology kits and
find out whether there's a legitimate species. I am personally not surprised
by flocking behaviors in crows, nor am I surprised by the revelation that
crows on the beach catch fish or aquatic invertebrates.

Crows are known for flocking and taking advantage of their habitat.

>
>Tweeters, The latest issue of the Wilson Bulletin has a short communication
>by Renee Robinette and James(?) Ha describing fishing behavior by flocks of
>Northwest crows at Meadowdale Park, North of Edmonds during very low tides.
> Interesting paper. I would guess that at sometime in the past there has
>been discussion on this listserv about the legitimacy of Northwest crows in
>our area. I have heard many birders suggest that there are no "pure"
>Northwest crows in Washington, and that they all must certainly have some
>common crow blood in them.
>I certainly see small tight flocks of very small crows with "funny" voices
>working the shorelines of the Sound. Why aren't these NW crows? Any
>arguements either way?
>Greg
>Greg Toffic
>Curator of Birds
>Woodland Park Zoo
>5500 Phinney Avenue N.
>Seattle, WA 98103
>(206) 684-4836 (Ph)
>(206)233-7278 (FAX)
>
>

--
*********************************
* Mike Patterson, Astoria, OR *
* mpatters at orednet.org *
http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters