anthropomorphically, i have no doubt birds can have fun with their
environment in this or similar ways. i've seen tree swallows capture a
feather, fly it to height, then drop it, only to capture it before it
reaches the ground. gulls at marina park have a similar game, though i
have to admit not knowing what they were dropping (couldn't get close
enough)...

00 caren
http://www.ParkGallery.org
george davis creek, north fork


On Wed, Jun 13, 2012 at 8:48 AM, Rob Sandelin <nwnature1 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Crows are not common in my neck of the woods, and these days when I see
> them
> in my woods they are hunting for nestlings. On Monday a lone crow caught my
> eye flying over a field in a peculiar manner. It would soar in a short
> dive,
> pull up and then at the top of its upward momentum, just before it would
> stall, it would twist a bit and sort of flick its wing in the air before
> stooping downward and then up again. It did this several times, and then it
> pumped wings, climbed back up into the open area and started swooping
> again.
> Curious, I walked over for a better view and the manner of flight suggested
> some sort of play, it didn't seem earnest enough to be catching bugs. Then
> the crow swooped over and I was able to see and follow it clearly and at
> the
> top of its upward swoop, it batted its wing at a clump of cottonwood seed
> fluff, which lifted back in the air. It was like a little kid batting a
> balloon to keep it aloft. It was warm and sunny and I lay down on the field
> (the most comfortable way to watch something overhead) and watched the crow
> play with fluff for several more minutes. There was something in the motion
> of the bird that radiated ease and contentment, life is good.
>
> Rob Sandelin
> Naturalist, Writer, Teacher
> Snohomish County
>
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