[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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