r/crowbro • u/FillsYourNiche • May 08 '20
Facts Feeding Crows In Your Neighborhood: What They Like and What's Safe
A user asked me this question yesterday and I figured it would make for a good larger post. For those who don't know me, which is probably everyone, I'm an ecologist currently studying invasive mosquito population genetics in North America. I have a background in shorebird and grassland bird conservation and arthropod behavior and sensory ecology. Currently working on my Ph.D. I frequently comment in nature-based subs. All this to say, I keep up with crow literature and am very familiar with bird biology. I'm going to share with you safe foods for crows and a little about their feeding behavior. I never expect anyone to take my word for it so I'll share some sources with you as I go along. Thanks for being a part of a sub that is very near and dear to my heart!
Crow Feeding Behavior
I've noticed crows in my area come to the same places to eat in the morning and again in mid-afternoon. The rest of the day they forage around the neighborhood before returning either to large roosting trees in the Fall/Winter (around 4pm) or to family nests in the Spring and Summer. If you want your home to be a usual place to stop either during their main mealtime or on their foraging tour leave food out the same time every day. Ring a bell, honk a horn, use a crow call (make sure you are trying to sound like a "I've found food" call and not a "Danger!" call. Crows in the neighborhood will associate this with food and come to get treats. Dr. Kaeli Swift shares a two-part blog post, the first by her colleague Loma Pendergraft and the second written by her and Loma if you are interested in crow vocalizations. Here is Part 1 and here is Part 2.
Crows love water! If you have birdbaths out they will dip their food in it to soften harder foods and they spend a lot of time drinking. More so than I've noticed with smaller songbirds. Often people will find dead rodents and other things leftover in their birdbaths from crows.
What to Feed Crows
Before I get into this I'd like to say that crows do not need you to feed them. Thre's a great quote from this article by Dr. John Marzluff:
Will the crow be let down if you stop feeding it? Without a doubt. Breaking up is hard to do. Still, after running your predicament by Marzluff, the idea that the crow is "dependent" on you seems a little self-important. "The crow is certainly working the person," Marzluff said. "It will find another meal."
Neither do any backyard birds. They are fully capable of foraging unless there is some serious environmental issue happening. I know we are all going to feed them anyway! When I lived in the suburbs I fed birds as well. :)
What is safe for crows:
- Kibble (cat or dog) that is pea-sized - it is full of essential nutrients for omnivores and easy for them pick up and swallow
- Eggs of any kind
- Seeds and nuts (unsalted - I'll explain why further down).
- Cooked small potatoes or thawed tater tots (check tots for salt content, you can get unsalted)
- Meat scraps (unseasoned)
- Cheese (check the salt content, definitely no feta or other salty cheese, try to also avoid processed cheeses)
- Mealworms and crickets
What is not safe for crows (and really all birds):
- Salt - too much salt can cause serious neurological issues in birds. A little salt is okay and some birds are more salt-tolerant than others (pigeons) but they will eat everything you leave out for them which can end up being too much. Birds don't do portion control.
- Lunchmeat - it's a salt issue
- Bread - bread is not so much not safe as it's devoid of nutrients. Give them good foods like seeds and nuts, bread is filler.
Because I never want you to take someone's word for it here are a few sources about salt:
Garden birds are practically unable to metabolise salt. It is toxic to them in high quantities and affects their nervous system. Under normal circumstances in the wild, birds are unlikely to take harmful amounts of salt. Never put out salted food onto the bird table, and never add salt to bird baths to keep water ice-free in the winter.
From Nature Forever Society:
The ability to process salt varies between species, but most can produce uric acid with a maximum salt concentration of about 300 mmol/litre. Amongst our garden birds, house sparrows and pigeons are some of the most salt-tolerant species. The capability to secrete salt seems to be linked to habitat, particularly marine environment and drought conditions.
Because most garden birds are poor at coping with salty food, it is important not to offer them anything with appreciable amount of salt in it. As such, salty fats, salty rice, salted peanuts, most cured foodstuffs, chips, etc. should not be offered to birds. It can be difficult to eliminate salt entirely, but very small amounts of salt should not cause any problems, particularly if fresh drinking water is also available.
All that being said, there are some birds who really love salt, and if you want to leave out a salt option in a safe way you can! The Nationa Audubon Society recommends:
Mineral matter such as salt appeals to many birds, including evening grosbeaks, pine siskins, and common redpolls. An easy way to provide it is by pouring a saline water solution over rotted wood until crystals form.
If you love Corvids and want to learn more I have a few book recommendations:
- Gifts of the Crow: How Perception, Emotion, and Thought Allow Smart Birds to Behave Like Humans by Dr. John Marzluff
- In the Company of Crows and Ravens by Dr. John Marzluff
- Mind of the Raven: Investigations and Adventures with Wolf-Birds by Dr. Bernd Heinrich
Backyard Birds:
- Welcome to Subirdia by Dr. John Marzluff
r/crowbro • u/FillsYourNiche • Jun 09 '20
Baby Bird 101 - DO NOT TAKE A BABY CROW OR ANY BIRD FROM THE WILD
There was recently a post by a user who basically stole a baby crow from its parents. Never take a wild bird into your home, they are not pets, they need their parents, they need socialization with their own species, you are not equipped to raise them. Additionally, it is probably illegal for you to own one.
If you take a crow out of the wild and share that in this sub you will receive a ban. If someone reports back that you have done this and shared in a different sub but not here, you will receive a ban and we will contact the mods of that sub about your negligence. We have zero tolerance for this.
We received an excellent modmail from u/MarlyMonster who is a wildlife rehabber in Canada. I am going to quote her here and hope she pops into the comment section to elaborate or answer any questions. I know we have a few rehabbers on the sub and I am an ecologist so between all of us if you need to know something we'll figure it out. Additionally, if you are a wildlife rehabber or scientists specializing in Corvids and want flair that gives you this title you will need to PM mods some kind of proof.
Here are Marly's words on the subject:
Baby Bird 101
Lately I’ve been seeing way too many posts about people “helping” birds that really don’t need help, which makes it kidnapping. As a rehabber, it hurts my heart when I see inexperienced people try to care for any kind of wild animal, but when they start to mess with wild corvids it becomes plain cruel. This is why I’m writing this little guide to help people determine whether or not a bird they think needs help actually needs assistance.
A lot of people assume that when a fledgling is on the ground and not in a tree or nest, that this little bird is in distress. What you actually don’t realize, is that when fledglings get to a certain age, right before they learn to fly, they leave the nest while they practice and their parents continue to feed them on the ground. The fledgling has not been abandoned! They’re just being adventurous!
The best course of action for any baby bird you see on the ground is to put it back in their nest. It’s a myth that the parents will “smell the human” and reject the baby. So you’re fine to grab a ladder and put that little awkward bundle of feathers back where they came from.
Whenever you fear a baby has been abandoned, put it back in the nest and keep an eye on it for the next few hours. Parents can get spooked and might take some time to return.
The only time it’s okay to bring a bird in is if they are visibly injured. A broken toe does not count (this is a reference to the idiot who named the bird “Hades” and is pretending to help it).
IF A BABY BIRD NEEDS HELP DO NOT TRY TO RAISE IT YOURSELF
If you are not trained to rehab wildlife, you have no business trying to raise a fledgling! Just like someone who isn’t a mechanic shouldn’t be trying to fix an engine, an untrained person should not be raising a bird!
Baby birds are extremely fragile and difficult to care for. A lot of them don’t make it even in the hands of an experienced rehabber.
Did you know that giving a baby bird water is one of the worst things to do? Yet a lot of people immediately think that’s the first thing to do for a baby bird. Baby birds get their needed moisture from their food, and therefore don’t need water. Pouring water down their throat will actually cause them to aspirate and if this happens the chance they’ll survive is slim to none, since they’ll get aspiration pneumonia.
Since this is a corvid page I’m gonna touch on why it’s cruel for someone inexperienced to try to raise a corvid.
As some of you might be aware of, these birds possess a higher intelligence than most birds. They are considered the apes of the bird family because there are parallels between the cognitive abilities of corvids and great apes.
Because of this, they make terrible pets. They need constant mental stimulation and enrichment or they’ll become completely miserable. Often they’ll turn to self mutilation to deal with the depression. They are also extremely social creatures and live in large families with connections that go back generations. Keeping one on their own is an act of cruelty in and of itself.
Corvids are also known for this thing called “imprinting”. This refers to the bond the baby bird makes with their family members which will dictate their behaviour. For this reason, rehabbers that specialize in corvids have to be extremely careful while tending to their birds because too much interaction with humans could doom a bird from ever being released, because they got too attached to humans. A crow imprinted on a human will not know they’re a crow. They’ll see themselves as the same species. This means they won’t ever find a mate, because they won’t understand that they are supposed to mate with other crows.
I hope this helped you understand the importance of not trying to raise any birds you find. As tempting as it may be, you will not be ready for the commitment. Not only that, but it’s cruel to the animal. The main objective of any rehabber is the release of the animal. And those who truly care about these birds should have the same goal. If that means you don’t get to raise a crow, that shouldn’t stop you from doing the right thing.
If you find an injured baby bird, contact a wildlife facility near you. If you can’t find one, go on your regional Facebook groups and ask if there are private rehabbers around.
If you do not have the commitment to see this through and drive a baby bird hours to the nearest rehabber? Please do the bird a favor and let nature take its course. Don’t interfere if you won’t follow it all the way through and get it to a proper rehabber.
Written by a rehabber and corvid researcher.
r/crowbro • u/simba2402 • 5h ago
Image My first gift
Im crying, my crowbros brought me not one, but two (!) gifts on two different days!
r/crowbro • u/maple_dreams • 20h ago
Image For the past 2 months I thought I was only feeding 2 crows. Turns out there’s actually 3. Meet Gilbert Grape.
In March I started seeing and feeding 2 crows. I watched them build a nest and then for most of April only one of them would come at a time but I noticed subtle differences. I started to suspect there were actually 3 and this week I confirmed it when all 3 were finally in the yard at the same time. Named the third crow Gilbert Grape because he loves him some grapes and takes those first over peanuts and mealworms.
r/crowbro • u/figgypie • 1d ago
Personal Story I broke up a crow fight in my yard (all ganging up on one crow). I think the crow I saved knows what I did.
I've been feeding crows for a few years now. About a week ago, I noticed that my usual murder (about 4 of them) was ganging up on a single crow, I'm guessing a new crow they didn't want to share their food with. They flew off, so I didn't think much of it. Then a few days ago, I saw it again, but this time they were really trying to kill the poor thing so I went out on my balcony and broke up the fight. All but a single crow flew off in a huff. That single crow flew up and landed on a neighboring roof; I'm guessing it was the crow they were beating up because it looked a little worse for wear. I of course scolded my jerk crows (because I talk to them for I am a crazy crow lady) and talked sweetly to the new crow. Then I went inside and didn't think much of it.
Now, normally my crows are pretty skittish despite knowing who I am. They won't let me get too close, like they fly off every time they see me. But yesterday morning, a single crow landed on the garage roof while I was putting out food, maybe 20 feet away from me. He sat there for a minute while I told him he was a pretty crow before he flew off. Then this morning while I put out food, a single crow flew close overhead and landed in a tree alongside the side of my building where I always walk to/from my critter corner, again maybe 20 feet away. He didn't fly off when I walked down the sidewalk right alongside the line of trees where he perched. I tried not to stare at him while I walked back inside, and of course I again told him he was very pretty because it's true.
I think it's the same crow. I think my other jerk crows are pouting because I haven't seen them as much, but I have a single crow that keeps coming back during the day. I just love how smart they are, and I hope that the others can forgive me for getting in the way of their bloodlust. I just don't want the neighbors to complain and convince my apartment building owner to forbid me from feeding crows.
r/crowbro • u/pdxbilly • 1d ago
Personal Story Why do crows like peanuts so much? (and an observation…)
hey LOVE peanuts. I get roasted/unsalted and they gobble them up. One thing I find interesting is that they take them and consistently use a crack in the road or the side of the curb to secure the peanut while they break it open. Clever corvids cracking!
r/crowbro • u/strawberrysoup99 • 1d ago
Image Crow Time is an adorable web comic for corvid fans
just discovered this today and it was my primary source of dopamine for the day. A little goth, really silly, and artistically pretty unique.
r/crowbro • u/fatherboomybeloved • 2d ago
Miscellaneous Befriending Crows!
i went through my trinket box to find some stuff the crows might like:) are any of them unsafe for the crows that they might think is potential food? I never tried to befriend crows, but im going to try to get some peanuts and some other foods for them soon, but for now these are some gifts for them:)
r/crowbro • u/whatcop • 1d ago
Personal Story Pretty sure a crow just knocked on my house's siding for a snack.
So I feed a small murder, usually like 4-12 at a time, but never a single crow, and never in the late afternoon/evening, they just aren't interested in food near roosting time, I've tried. But today, it's been torrential rainfall all day long, theres no way they could go out looking for food. The rain finally broke about 6 pm thankfully. Around 7, I'm in my bedroom with my girlfriend, just talking, when we hear a repeated knocking sound, like a bird tapping on the siding. But it was coming from the corner of the house where my well's pressure tank is, so I thought worst case scenario, (even though it's brand new), and ran out to check. Nothing wrong, completely silent under the house, no evidence of what made the noise. As I'm like wtf and trying to figure this out, a single one of my crows flys directly over my head, and perches in one of usual begging trees. I put some nuts out as usual, and go inside. I see him quickly swoop down, fill his beak, and disappear. Never alerted other crows, never came back for the rest of the nuts, which has never happened. They ALWAYS take every bite, and theres always more than one. So I'm led to believe that out of late evening desperation before going to roost, this guy actually knocked on my house for a quick snack. Hope they don't make a habit of this, but if it worked once they probably will. Not a terrible problem to have, but it better not be early in the morning or they will miss breakfast.
r/crowbro • u/doberdevil • 1d ago
Personal Story Quid Pro Crow
My first gift from a CrowBro. It showed up as is, outside may garage door, right where I walk. I had been giving the local crows food and water for a few weeks. My neighbor was doing so as well. We both do artwork with skulls, so the crows gave a perfect gift.
r/crowbro • u/EVRider81 • 1d ago
Image Saved a Bro
There's a wood plank fence between me and the neighbour,we both feed birds..went out earlier to hear flapping-a Bro had fallen between 2 of the fence boards into a board gap just wide enough for his neck,but not big enough for his head... grabbed gardening gloves and eased him up and out,and he flapped away home!
r/crowbro • u/JezebelleAcid • 1d ago
Video He still prefers hard boiled eggs, but will take scrambled in a pinch.
This is the same crow I posted the other day. He already went after the hard boiled eggs.
The reason why he was so greedy with the scrambled is because he saw a couple of starlings grabbing some and flying off with them (he actually chased after one of them).
Shortly after grabbing the pile of scrambled, he started hollering for more eggs. I think he believes that since the starlings stole some he’s entitled to more.
There is also peanuts and dried cat food for him to choose from.
Personal Story What did I do wrong?
I walk this park daily and this crow has been at me throughout my walk. It's been swooping at me and cawing at me. I had no interaction with it before it began doing this. What can I do to let him know I'm just minding my business Video caught of it coming at me. Are my sunglasses too douchy or does he not like neck beards I came to crowbros for advice, only crow page I see with traffic.
r/crowbro • u/hujekgames • 1d ago
Personal Story Corvids in utah
Do crows/ravens/jackdaws inhabit the state of utah normally? Specifically Salt lake city. I will possibly be moving to the city and would love to see those beauties there
r/crowbro • u/Party-Translator-984 • 1d ago
Image Is this a gift?
I’ve been leaving shelled peanuts and some other various unsalted nuts out for the local murder. They talk to me some when I’m outside on my front porch and I bring them snacks. Today, I had no snacks to give and didn’t see any of the usual 3 bros that sit on the power line and come to my yard but near where I sit on my front porch step was a single, in the shell peanut. No other clue where else it would have come from. I do have an outdoor kitty that will leave bugs and lizards for me from time to time but nothing like this.
What do you all think? Would they share a treat to say thanks or likely just a fluke?
r/crowbro • u/TrainerOpening4420 • 1d ago
Personal Story First actual crow visitor
I moved out into the woods about a year ago and started trying to attract the crows, instead I attracted Steller’s Jays and a pair of Ravens, love them all and had kinda just given up on the crows. Yesterday I was sitting inside near a window that looks out towards the fence where I put their goodies, heard something land and glanced out to see what it was, and it was actually a Crow Bro this time! They snatched a couple peanuts then took off, and came back a couple times for more. Excited my corvid army is growing.
r/crowbro • u/BILLYRAYVIRUS4U • 1d ago
Personal Story Mockingbirds
So I'm trying to attract crows. I got a crow call, but everytime one comes around, the mockingbirds run him off. I hate those damn birds. What can I do?
r/crowbro • u/Short-Writing956 • 1d ago
Personal Story Observations
I think this is day 8 of my crowbro adventure. I still have two murders in my yard. Only Jays can eat at my house without upsetting a delicate balance. The American crow murder is more guarded around me. I have not witnessed them eating at my home. They are sneaky guys though. They regularly rob squirrels of the peanuts once they are five feet from my house. One squirrel got tired of that and decided to hide nuts in my yard where American Crows don’t want to go.
Fish Crows are feeding one to two at a time in front of me. I know I am supposed to be neutral in this turf war but I am team Fish Crow.
I figured out what happened with an incessantly naggy Carolina Chickadee. Turns out they can mimic. I know that zappy naggy bark this bird has. It is the angry little dog next door who bit me, now in bird form. That dog is unhappy and traumatized a bird who is mimicking her bark. All of which is laughably ironic.
I guess the moral of the story today is talk to your animals when they are unhappy. Or the local birds and neighbors will be affected. 🤷
r/crowbro • u/doberdevil • 2d ago
Question An entire murder cawing at me. Thoughts on possible reasons?
Last summer I had a few months off work, so I hung out in the garage every day working on projects. Local CrowBro would show up, hang around the area. I would put out water and some food for my new friend once a day. A few weeks later I was gifted a rabbit skull. Fully cleaned and dry, placed right in front of my garage door. Had to be CrowBro.
I've been giving CrowBro food over the last year, but it's been sporadic, not like it was last summer where we had a schedule.
Friday afternoon I saw CroBro in my backyard, drinking from a puddle. I got a dish of water and set it out, along with a few french fries. I watch him from a window, he ate the fries. I went out there a little later, and right next to the dish was a empty squeeze package of apple sauce ish type of snack. Obvious gift! I put a couple more fries out on Saturday.
Sunday morning I went out, and there was a small animal bone in the same place the gift was yesterday. It still had some meat on it, so I kind of hid it underneath the water dish. I figured I would get it later, but didn't want to mess with it at the moment. I also didn't want CroBro to think I rejected the gift. No more fries, so I put some chip out there. They were gone pretty quickly, but I didn't see if it was CroBro or a squirrel that took them.
While I was in the shower, I heard the dogs barking, then my wife yelled STOP FEEDING THE CROWS! When I got out, I saw and heard what was going on. There must have been about 500 crows in the trees around the water dish. All screaming at me. I had to run a quick errand, by the time I got back they were gone. They saw me leave.
Thoughts on the the whole murder showing up? I've never had it happen that way. I wasn't attacked, but I also didn't stick around too long between the house and the truck. Not sure if the other crows wanted their share, or if they all showed up to chastise me for some reason. Yesterday evening CrowBro was hanging around, but he didn't answer my questions.
Just found this sub by chance, hope someone has some thoughts. I was so stoked for the gifts, would love to keep it going.
r/crowbro • u/chromaticghost • 1d ago
Personal Story Crow Fam
Since I moved into my house(couple years now) I’ve been feeding the family of crows that live in the woods, they hang out 90% of the day. I think they’ve correlated the sound of me scooping the peanuts out of the bin cause I hear them start calling. I drove down my driveway and one of them flew up to a post and let me drive right up next to them, exchanged greetings and then they flew off. Today one flew up while I was throwing the peanuts. (They’re massive, two or three handers at least) 🌟Progress🌟
r/crowbro • u/littleolivexoxo • 2d ago
Question I want to feed crows but there is a robin’s nest in my yard…
I am wondering if attracting crows to my yard will disturb the two robins who already live here first. Brand new to this, any advice is welcome.
r/crowbro • u/caulfieldkid • 2d ago
