At about 3:10PM this afternoon approximately fifteen crows converged on an anthill across the street from our house. One of the crows is banded. Afraid we did not get a good look at the bands as the crow was standing in grass long enough to cover the bands. I did go ahead and report the crow, noting my reservations at:

http://courses.washington.edu/vseminar/main.htm#8

The pecking order of the crows appeared to be in force. The first crows on the anthill were quickly dispersed by three crows that showed up last. The three crows then established a pecking order. It was a bit frenzied at the beginning with several crows attempting to get onto the anthill. Several times I saw the crows drop their wings and spread them a bit, like birds do when they are "sunbathing." Along with this action the crows would do a lot of hurried pecking on the anthill, apparently picking up ants. I highly doubt this action was drawing out the ants. Instead I suspect this was just a way to "defend" a territory while the crow was eating.

I haven't measured the anthill but estimate it is currently 16 to 18 inches high, about 30 inches in diameter. It did have a rather rectangular shape with a flat top but collapsed a bit during the (late) Autumn rains and is now rounded. While the anthill is not even close to the scale of the anthills at the Finley National Wildlife Refuge near Monroe, Oregon, it did remind me of those in general shape.

With the cold weather the last few days and the cloudy skies (no warming sunlight to bring out the ants) I'm rather surprised the ants were drawing attention to themselves. I did not see any ants on the surface or around the anthill. The anthill construction started last spring so it may just be the crows know it is there and came by for a snack. The way in which the crows arrived (what caught my attention) made me think one or more knew where they were going and why.

I have never seen any birds going after the ants on the anthill before. In the past I have seen sparrows or jays land on the anthill but quickly jump and/or fly away like they were being bit. Even the flickers keep about three feet away while "drilling" for ants nearby. Been rather surprised that while I have watched flickers "eye" the anthill I've never seen one approach it.

Bruce McKenzie
Kenmore, WA USA
mailto:bmsh.mckenzie at gte.net