Head cocked, eyes twinkling in excitement, the inquisitive crow is always watching, learning, and adapting to changing circumstances. The sleek black crow rightfully earns it's rank as one of the most intelligent birds in the world.
It is the crows inquisitive nature, and willingness to learn, which enables this bird to accomplish tasks which other birds would not even consider. The intelligent crow has developed the ability to make, and use tools, and these abilities have garnered this bird the attention of the scientific world.
The ability to make and use tools is one of the defining characteristics of being human. There are only two other creatures which share this same ability with humans, and these are the chimpanzee, and the crow. This remarkable learned ability of the crow, places this bird's intelligence level comparable to that of a chimp, or perhaps even higher.
Although the intelligence level of crows is often greatly under rated, this amazing bird is a willing learner, and far from deserving the disrespect that we humans have bestowed upon it. Crows are frequently misrepresented, misunderstood, and unfortunately also treated inhumanely by those who do not understand them.
Often viewed as a nuisance bird, the crow is still shot, or poisoned without repercussion. Yet it is actually the crows intelligence, and it's ability to adapt, that are largely responsible for many of the prejudices and misjudgments bestowed upon it.
It is the crows ability to outwit man in it's quest to find an easy meal which creates much of the misunderstanding surrounding this bird. In modern society the crow is frequently classed as a pest, yet this intelligent bird is far from deserving the reputation that we humans have given it, the crow is simply adapting to survive in an ever changing world.
Crows will watch the world around them and memorize information which they feel is important to them. The amazing crow will then share this knowledge with their offspring or any other crows which they feel can benefit from this knowledge. The innovative crow will remember garbage routes so he will know which neighborhoods to haunt on garbage day. He'll keep watch over his favorite gardens, and learn which months are best for finding his favorite foods there.
Crows can understand and remember time periods which enable them to acquire the freshest meals and there is even some evidence to this bird's ability to recognize the concept of numbers. It has been reported, that crows being hunted will not emerge from hiding till each member of the hunting party has left the area and, the crow then deems the area as safe.
The intelligent crow has learned the concept of using sticks to acquire bugs or other foods from small cracks or crevices. Tests presented to the crow to test his ability in using tools have shown some remarkable results. The crow will examine the various tool options presented to him, and will then choose a tool that is of the correct length, or width for the assigned task.
If a suitable tool is not is not available for his use, then the highly adaptable crow will design a tool that is suitable for the task at hand. The crow will trim a stick to make it the appropriate size, or he will bend a piece of wire into a hook if that is the tool required for his use. View Video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5spwdNCiyc
Not only has the crow learned to use tools but this bird has also devised amazing means of safely taking advantage of individual foods while they are in season. Crows have learned how to crack shelled nuts by dropping them onto sidewalks, or road pavement, to crack them. When simply dropping the nut onto a hard surface does not work to crack it, the bird then aims the nut into traffic, so a passing vehicle will crack the nut for them. Crows have also learned to watch changing traffic lights and pedestrian crossing signals for safe time periods in which to retrieve their meal, without the danger of being run over by passing vehicles. View video at: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-73291825158 85554944
Crows will not only acquire knowledge to help them survive, but they will also pass on the skills which they have learned to their offspring, as well as others in their group who this knowledge may benefit. The crow is a bird with strong social values which many humans could learn from.
Like most birds the crow is a bird with strong family ties and will generally remain with his chosen mate for life. The crow's young will generally stay within their parents for two to five years or until they acquire a mate of their own. Crows are a social bird and very devoted to their family units. Crows will defend their own family unit but they will also come to the aide of other crows in distress.
During the winter crows will bind into a communal group for warmth and safety. Communal bird gatherings are a natural mechanism of birds, and can range anywhere from a few dozen birds, to a grouping of hundreds of thousands of birds. These communal crow groups can be intimidating to some individuals but it is actually a natural tendency of bird species to use numbers to increase their safety. The flocking pattern of migrating geese are a prime example of this trait in other bird populations.
The crows sleek black color is responsible for much of the fear and false assumptions about this bird. Black is a color often associated with death, foreboding, and evil, but to the dark colored crow, black is actually a means of protection.
To it's predators a crow roosting in a tree can look more like a shadow than a meal. Hawks hunting during the day are more likely to view the dark colored crow as a shadow within the branches of a tree. Owls hunting at night are less likely to see the dark colored crow where it roosts. Hawks and owls are the crow's primary predators. In the future they will not be the crows only threat, the crow is very sensitive to the West Nile Virus, and this illness may greatly impact their ability to survive.
As with most bird and animal species, as more urban areas offer up easily acquired food, the adaptable crow finds itself amidst increasing danger from encounters with man. The crows use of garbage as a food source has entire communities angered. While in rural areas farmers have, and remain, one of the crows staunchest enemies.
The crow does have a beneficial place in our society. The crow consumes large amounts of carrion, and waste grain matter, which would otherwise rot and spread disease. The crow also consumes large numbers of insects. Man just has to learn to give this intelligent bird the respect which it deserves.
Head cocked, eyes twinkling in excitement, the inquisitive crow is always watching, learning, and adapting to changing circumstances. It is perhaps the intelligence of this sleek black bird which so very frightens those who least understand it.
Sources:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5spwdNCiyc
http://users.ox.ac.uk/~kgroup/tools/crow_natural_his tory.shtml
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-73291825158 85554944
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide /American_Crow.html