Subject: [crows mobbing Red-Tails and other things.]
Date: Dec 5 09:41:52 1999
From: PATTY GATES - javajunco at netscape.net


Yes! I, too, have seen the crows in mourning! About two months ago, in
downtown Seattle, on the corner of second and Pike, I saw behavior very
similar to what you describe. There was a dead crow in the street, up against
the sidewalk, and there were around 100 crows, on either side of the street.
They seemed to be announcing the fatality to other crows in the area, who
continued to arrive in droves. The crows completly ignored the traffic, both
automotive and foot, and swooped down low over the corpse on their way to the
other side of the street, in a back and forth movement. There was one
particularly vocal crow, and I have to admit that I anthropomorphized a
little, and thought it must be the next of kin.
At first I thought they might canabalize the lately departed, but they never
did. I didn't experience the "moment of silence", but I didn't stay for the
whole memorial service, as I had to return to work.

Any explanations?

"Dan Lindsay" <susandan2 at earthlink.net> wrote:
Just now about three dozen crows are mobbing a Red-Tailed Hawk outside my
condo south of downtown Bellevue, assisted by a Flicker and several
Steller's Jays. I thought they were more insistent than usual, so I went to
see if perhaps they had an owl in their sights. Instead, I saw that the
hawk had a dying crow in its grasp. The crows were coming much closer to
the hawk than is usual, doubtless because of its prey -- and perhaps because
they knew its claws were occupied.

This reminded me of a very odd event occurred several years ago. Well over
200 crows, all cawing at full volume, congregated in dozens of trees around
our condo. Thinking "owl," I went to see what they had. All I found was a
dead crow in the street, apparently hit by a car. For more than half an
hour, crows continued to arrive till every tree in the area was black with
them; their noise was more than I have ever heard from birds in my life.
Then, within a few seconds, they fell totally silent. For about half an
hour, not a crow moved or made a sound. Then, in groups of two to six, they
silently flew away. It took a long time for them to depart.

I have puzzled over this event ever since. It is hard not to believe that
the crows were mourning their departed comrade -- and since crows die every
day without this sort of display, the dear departed must have been a true
VIC (very important crow). Has anyone else ever seen a "crow wake" before?
I'd love to know more about this behavior.

Dan Lindsay, Bellevue
mail to: susandan2 at earthlink.net


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