Elise

Crows are excellent at observing other bird species' behavior and trying to
copy it. However crows are not raptors; their feet are not specially adapted
for powerful grip. I guess fingerlings are small enough for crows' weak feet.

In the courtyard between the first 4 buildings at Microsoft is a tiny man-made
pond called "Lake Bill". Mallards would try to raise ducklings there, despite
the concrete pool sides that made cover minimal and made it difficult for
ducklings to get out of the pool. Crows learned that they could pluck young
ducklings off the surface of the water, possibly having watched some hawks do
it. However they did this with their beaks, presumably since their feet and
claws were insufficient for the task.

So I would say that this behavior was learned by the local crows, possibly by
observing Ospreys. However, I wouldn't call it a peculiarity, but rather a
local skill.

== Michael Hobbs
== Kirkland WA
== hummer at isomedia.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Elise Gruber" <grubsy at msn.com>
To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Saturday, June 09, 2001 11:09 AM
Subject: crow question


> My father asked the following. He lives on Lake Washington near Seward Park.
> Maybe one of you crow people can shed some light?
> *********
> I have been observing common crows swooping over the surface of the lake and
> grabbing fingerlings with their claws. I didn't know crows could behave
> like ospreys. Is this something crows have always done, or is it a
> peculiarity of these crows?
> **********
> Elise Gruber
> Seattle, WA
> grubsy at msn.com
>