[EBB Sightings] American Crow Leapfrogging Canada Goose

Thanks!  I wasn't aware of that being a common behaviour.

Bob Hislop
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Condit" 
To: "Bob Hislop" ; "Art Edwards" ; 
"Sightings EBB" 
Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 10:13 AM
Subject: Re: [EBB Sightings] American Crow Leapfrogging Canada Goose


> Gulls use this technique to crack clam and mussel shells all the time. 
> That's why you'll find fragments of shell lying around on pavement 
> (sidewalks, golf cart paths, etc.) near coastal waters.
> -----Original Message-----
>>From: Bob Hislop 
>>Sent: Apr 6, 2009 9:52 AM
>>To: Art Edwards , Sightings EBB 
>>
>>Subject: Re: [EBB Sightings] American Crow Leapfrogging Canada Goose
>>
>>I haven't observed this kind of behavior, however I have observed a fairly
>>creative behavior in (at least) one individual involving cracking walnuts.
>>We have a walnut tree in our back yard, and every year a crow will come 
>>by,
>>pick up a walnut off the ground, then fly it over the house and land on a
>>power line over the street. After resting for a few moments on the line 
>>the
>>crow will then fly upward (gaining altitude) and drop the walnut on the
>>street (trying to crack the shell). I have observed this creative behavior
>>several times, especially as I'm backing my car out of the driveway; and 
>>I'm
>>wondering if this intelligent bird is timing this behavior so as to allow 
>>my
>>car to run over and crack the nut!!  I can't imagine any other bird 
>>species
>>being this creative.
>>
>>Bob Hislop
>>Walnut Creek
>>----- Original Message ----- 
>>From: "Art Edwards" 
>>To: "Sightings EBB" 
>>Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 9:21 AM
>>Subject: [EBB Sightings] American Crow Leapfrogging Canada Goose
>>
>>
>>
>>Yesterday I witnessed what seemed like some very bizarre behavior by an
>>American Crow. Two Canada Geese were grazing at the north end of the
>>Springtown Golf Course, in short mowed grass far from any trees or shrubs.
>>An American Crow was repeatedly jumping over one of the geese, hitting the
>>goose on the back with its feet on the way.  This happened about 25 times 
>>in
>>about five minutes, all silently. The goose seemed oblivious to all this,
>>only lowering its bill and advancing toward the crow once.  A couple of
>>times the crow seemed to stumble upon landing, pitching forward wih its 
>>open
>>bill in the grass, but immediatly recovered, turned, took a couple of 
>>steps,
>>and jumped over the goose again.  The two geese continued to graze, while
>>walking slowly. In the meantime, I was moving closer for a better look, 
>>and
>>finally, the geese walked away from me, and the crow pecked at the ground 
>>a
>>few times, then flew.  I looked closely at the spot where the crow had
>>pecked, but could find nothing, just short grass with some clover mixed 
>>in,
>>and a few dried-up whitish clover flowers.  Not even any goose droppings.
>>
>>Has anyone ever seen this kind of behavior before?  Can anyone explain its
>>purpose or significance?  Any thoughts?
>>
>>I suppose one possibility is that the crow had been attacked in a similar
>>manner by a blackbird, which I have seen frequently, and decided to copy
>>that behavior.
>>
>>Art Edwards
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