My students and I have observed crows doing this on the Maples in Al Borlin
Park in Monroe. We examined a fallen mossy branch once and found several
large grubs in the mulchy bottom of the moss which I think were Crane fly
larvae, they looked very similar to the "leatherjackets" which are larvae of
the european crane fly which infest lawns. If these were what the crows are
after they were big enough that a couple would make a good snack.


Rob Sandelin
Naturalist, Writer
The Environmental Science School
http://www.nonprofitpages.com/nica/SVE.htm
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-----Original Message-----
From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Linda
Phillips
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 11:56 AM
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: [Tweeters] (no subject)

Good Day Tweeters,
Under beautiful clear skies I saw a group of three crows pealing moss off of
tree branches. I think they must have been searching for some bug or grub
under the moss. Does any one know what they may have been after?
I thought they might be gathering nesting material but I ruled that out
because they just let the moss fall to the ground.

Linda Phillips
Sweetmem at juno.com
Kenmore 98028-2616
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Tweeters at u.washington.edu
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