Any corvid experts around?? I have a self induced crow problem and I’m a bit scared!

[CrowTroubles]

I know mumsnet tend to enjoy a crow story but if anyone knows anything about corvids I could really do with some advice!

About a year ago I started feeding a local crow family - nothing too formal, I’d just walk across to the park where they hang out, throw some food down, watch them eat and then we’d all move on with our day.

Over time they started meeting me on the park, if they weren’t there when I arrived they soon would be once I arrived. Two crows in particular became very reliable in showing up and one started coming very close to me. All very friendly.

In spring this pair had a baby and very cutely they brought this baby to meet me on the park. I know crows are notoriously protective of their young so I didn’t pay it too much attention, just carried on feeding the adults as normal.

trouble is this baby crow never seemed to have the usual wariness that the adults had, it would land right next to me, run up to me across the floor, land on fences right next to me - it didn’t give a shit.

3 months on this baby crow is now a juvenile and seems to have become a bit obsessed with me.

Now - today!! Omg … I walked out of my house and 5 crows were sat on my roof waiting for me - as I walked down the drive 3 of them performed fly bys over my head (one has done this before in a playful way but never 3 of them and never at my actual house!!!) as I walked to the field they followed closely performing multiple fly bys, landing on lamp posts, fences, signs etc … all around me. I got to the field and fed them there as usual but juvenile crow wouldn’t leave me alone … normally they just stay at the feeding spot but today he carried on following me and then … he mobbed me!! He flew up behind me and started flapping around my head, wouldn’t go away - I don’t know if he was contemplating landing ON me or actually being aggressive?! I left the park sharpish but he carried on flying towards me and I had to keep turning to face him to put him off.

what have I done?? Why does he hate me all of a sudden?? He’s now sat on my back fence just staring at the house 😬 are they just really hungry because of the relentless weather or have I made an enemy of this bird somehow?

I fear he has imprinted on you. You have a pet for life!

I think he fancies you......

Are you single @CrowTroubles 😉

😁

Corvid lover here. No advice, but they are creatures of legend.

My Mum had an issue with massive numbers of crows hanging out in her garden. Eating all the food scaring off little birds , attacking her dog. She ordered a fake hanging crow from Amazon, put it up on a tree branch. I was amazed but they were gone the next day. I never thought it would work.

Just read the OP out to my husband as we both love birds and a crow landed about a metre away from our open back door and looked in!

This made me giggle, although not sure why I read it in my head with an Aussie accent 😆

They also enjoy fresh (not frozen) peas, potato and poached chicken. They also love shell on peanuts and will come almost to your hand over time. Signed someone who once had a lovely jackdaw who I nicknamed Rowan who I fed for years, he and his family left me many gifts and we enjoyed what were almost conversations. They knew when it was scraps time but sadly left when my psycho neighbour cut down his tree. I too hold grudges.

We have a murder of crows that I’ve fed for a number of years. I absolutely love them and they wait on the garden fence in the morning for feeding time. The younger ones can be a bit stupid at times getting too close to me but they’ve never hurt me and the rest normally tell them off. We have one that stands at the kitchen door watching when it’s open but he knows he never steps over the threshold, he’s the tamest one. They’re very intelligent, DH used to whistle on them in the morning before they realised they were welcome to come and get fed. Another farmer told us if they dive bomb without screeching they’re demanding food, if they’re screeching they’re not happy with you.

I want to know what the shiny object the bird dropped for you is. I’m invested 😊

Yup! That film gave me the heebie-jeebies about birds.

they are training you to feed them, shiny thing is payment,

This means that you're engaged. His family are delighted and thoroughly approve and you're going to have to support them in food for the rest of your life. They may even make you their leader and will expect you to produce powerful offspring.

I do follow the Scottish seagull on tiktok though. In real life birds scare me

Oh dear 😂you'll have to move.

One of my cats has pissed off the local crows, they gather to squawk and dive bomb him when he leaves the house. They have meetings to discuss their hatred of him and plot their next move. They never forget. He's fucked it.

How do I entice them to my garden? There's plenty in the area but never seen them in my garden, though I do have bird food out for all the other little poppets.

I am listening, thank you ☺️ I’ll stop feeding them but leave the water out. Can you tell me - was this juvenile attacking me or just getting a bit too excited? Sorry if you’ve already answered this, will read thread properly in a bit

Are you the OP who is the owner of the crows Russell Crowe and Sheryl Crow?

Have you considered logging it with 101?

Joking!

OP, are you absolutely sure they are the same crows? 🐦‍⬛

Start feeding them from a table in your garden instead of at the park by hand. He's young and doesn't have manners but they will remember you now. He knows where you live so will tell the others.

😂😂😂 no but I wish I was 😂

this post made me LOL - sorry if its becoming a genuine problem but you had me with the multiple fly bys, I have a vivd imagination and that aspect sounded hilarious

I wouldn't stop feeding, it's really hard out there on birds with the rock hard ground, in fact I'd think it was vital. Feed in different spots if worried about diseases and poop not spreading between birds.

I don't think the bird meant you any harm. By all means if you want to stop, then stop but I think I'd rather carry a brolly to protect myself and keep feeding until we get a bit more rain.

Oh, an old friend in Rome started feeding a couple of pigeons on her balcony. Then was miffed that 50 used to turn up!

But corvids aren’t dependent on anything from underground — there are ample natural sources of food available to them at the moment.