Hi,
This is a follow-up on my "Dead Crows" Sunning Behavior report from 10
days ago.

I happened to be back at the Chase Bank when my favorite drive-up
window clerk was there. I asked whether she'd noticed the crows doing
anything strange. She was very glad to discuss them and said she saw
the "sunning" behavior (that's what she called it) frequently and as
recently as yesterday. She was also glad that I brought it up with her
as the bank staff had discussed the birds' behavior and were
mystified, too. (Isn't that great?)

Anyway, for the past 10 days I have stopped at the bank on six
occasions (sunny, overcast, early in the morning, late in the
afternoon, etc.), got out of my car, and carefully looked at the
hillside. It has quite a lot of trash there... kind of gross... and a
lot of low-growing ivy on this minor southwest-facing slope. But there
do not seem to be any ant nests nor any accumulation of ants on this
hillside on any occasion. I can certainly imagine that "anting"
happens but I don't see that it explains this particular behavior in
Gig Harbor.

It is kind of a mystery and I would love to know more. Maybe someday?

Enjoy the birds!
Patty Kennedy

>
> Others believe they lie near an ant pile to allow the insects to eat
> the mites that have infested them. Perhaps both are true?
>
>
>> From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu [mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu
>> ] On Behalf Of Patty Kennedy
>> Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2012 7:11 AM
>> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>> Subject: [Tweeters] "Dead Crow Sunning" Behavior spotted in Gig
>> Harbor
>>
>> As I was at Chase Bank's Point Fosdick branch, waiting at the drive-
>> up window, I checked out the crows who often seem to be doing
>> something interesting in the trees and ivy nearby. Yesterday, it
>> was particularly hot in the afternoon and I saw a behavior that I'd
>> read about but never seen: "Dead Crow Sunning." An apparently
>> lifeless crow lying in the sun, wing and tail feathers fully spread
>> out and draped over the ivy like a picnic blanket. Not only that,
>> but there was a companion crow (I've never read about this part of
>> the ritual) who seemed to be on guard. The "Sentry Crow" stood in
>> the ivy, not five feet from his/her seemingly "dead" friend and
>> looked suspiciously at me. When I attempted to slow down (having
>> completed my bank deposit) and perhaps even take a photo with my
>> where-is-it-when-I-need-it camera-phone, the "Dead" began to rise
>> awkwardly, I might even say drunkenly... so I quickly moved on,
>> watching in my rearview mirror as it re-settled itself into a full-
>> out sprawl.
>>
>> Will it ever happen again there? I wonder, but I frequently witness
>> interesting crow behavior there including what appeared to be
>> nesting in the conifers above. You might want to check out the
>> crows if you're in the area. Look in the tall trees in the NW
>> corner and in the ivy bank below, in the landscaping that lines the
>> boundary with the Point Fosdick sidewalk.
>>
>> Happy birding, as ever,
>> Patty Kennedy
>> Gig Harbor, WA
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