Subject: Crows Escorting Car????
Date: Jun 28 15:32:13 2004
From: Mya Bell - myabell at 4-sightmedia.com


Well, that's interesting.

I've never seen crows doing it, but the behavior you describe reminds me
of the seagulls that 'draft' the B.C. Ferries. By easing into the
slipstream of the ferry boats, the gulls can fly from Swartz Bay to
Tsawassen (or vice versa) with narry a wing flap. (Racing cyclists use
this technique on long races to save energy.)

The gulls don't have to stay behind the ferries either; they seem to be
able to draft along the sides and front of the boats quite well.

Do you suppose the crows have discovered they can hitch a ride on the
wind currents?

Mya Bell
north of Bothell, WA
mailto:myabell at 4-sightmedia.com

Dawn Bailey wrote:

> about a month ago, I had a crow escort my van thru Eatonville, he/she
> flew right at my roof level for about 100 yards right in front of me
> at 25mph, right down 161 going north. I thought it weird at the time,
> but maybe not?
>
> Dawn Bailey
> Eatonville, WA
> mailto:dawnsdog at rainierconnect.com
>
> *Sent:* Monday, June 28, 2004 7:09 AM
> *Subject:* Crows Escorting Car????
>
> While at Fort Worden yesterday for a family gathering I spied
> crows doing something very unusual.
>
> Driving down the beach was a man in a blue car with its sunroof
> open. Escorting this car were about five or six crows. One crow
> was above the car, one behind and two on either side. Another
> bird flew back and forth in front of the car. The birds were all
> keeping pace with the vehicle and stayed with the car all along
> the beach road. The birds were "cawing" as they and the car moved
> along the road.
>
> About fifteen minutes later the blue car and three corvid escorts
> returned past our group. This time the sun roof was closed.
>
> Could the birds have been playing "lets drop something inside"?
>
> Speaking of corvids, last week at Deception Falls off US Hwy 2, my
> husband and I came upon three dumpster diving ravens. The birds
> hopped off the dumpsters and just waddled down the trail -
> squawking as they plodded away. The birds were well down the
> trail before they flew off. In a few moments the woods was filled
> with the squawking and gronking of ravens.
>
> Lydia Bishop
> Everett, WA
>