u/CountingCrowz

📖 House Crow (Corvus Splendens)
🌍 Palm, AE

Mom wanted to stock up from me first and sent pestering kiddo packing! Damn they are brutal!

Kiddo couldn't digest defeat and attacked his older brother at the end 😄

*Mom letting me hand feed here

30 minutes nonstop of this to make me turn to him instead of talking to my neighbor!

5 years old, still acts like a kid!

Blackie is my love! Only crow who will come to me alone to play and to talk :)

House Crow (Corvus Splendens) - Palm Jumeirah, AE

I believe I have outgrown Crows and I am at a point where I need something bigger in my life. Something that can pass as my dog. Something I can squash and squeeze (without sucking dear life out of!).

I have been casing those cormorants. Fledge came next to me yesterday. Looked quite docile. In fact, it was quite surprising. I was throwing food to the fish. And there is someone standing right next to me, like a kid! Wth! It was the fledge! I looked at him. He looked at me. Then we both looked at the fish! There are 6 of them here many years. Anyone befriended one?

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House Crow (Corvus Splendens)

Palm Jumeirah, AE

I owe a lot to my buddies. They helped me heal after injury by accompanying me in boring physio walks. I'd leave everyone and everything for them.

I will add here regularly some of their stories. Not:

"I heard from a friend who...

heard from a friend who...

heard from another who...

heard from University of Washington researcher..."

REO-Speedwagon-Take-It-On-The-Run-Wear-A-Wig-Baby type FUD stories! Real

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BACKGROUND

Favorable conditions (food-water-shelter) exist for them to choose this area. There are 60+ restaurants here which is their main food source. Water from swimming pool, fountain, irrigation pipes... and lots of trees.

When we first came to this complex 14 years ago, we met with Whitey. She was noticeable, because she was bald! She is still here!

These crows made it impossible to live in our apartment, because 13-14 hours a day they would caw nonstop on the Palm Trees right under us. Extremely irritating! They are here all the time along with mynahs, silverbills, red-vented/white-cheeked bulbuls, hoppoes, doves, etc.

I decided to move them to the far side of the beach so they can leave us in peace! This turned out to be not necessary, each one eating few pieces in the morning was enough to keep them quiet.

UAE Govt has pretty humane laws for birds here (unlike Singapore). It is illegal to interfere with their nests or hunt/poison/kill them. Just recently House Crow, Mynah and Pigeon is listed as invasive species though. But only humane ways of their removal is allowed (audio deterrent, bird spikes, etc). Govt is also very attentive (at least for marine life). When I called for fish die-off, they immediately came and investigated the water. It was heat.

Resident crows are 25-27. I can recognize and named half of them. In summer they become 70-80 with babies, but since they are very territorial, they kick out babies in December and back to 25. But in December, tens of 1000s Seagulls come.

I might probably be fined for this post since identifying data is there and Karens have been complaining a lot lately (something changed here with recent war, garbage started pouring in and living in my community). Alright. When it happens, I will buy a 45-ft Lagoon catamaran and anchor it right in front of my building for Karens. My buddies will be fine.

Enjoy

FINAL EDIT: Fail.

I got her in a favorable position lunging close towards me (~ 1 meter) and as she was about to land, I threw the towel. She was 20 meters away before the towel left my hand! Made a mid-air turn, jumpy fscker!

Catching story is over. I will leave her be and monitor, hopefully she will adapt with her deformities.

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OP here: Can something be done for this baby? : r/crows

1:10 Elders

1:25 Feeder Juvie Sibling (feeds only the disabled fledge)

I decided to catch this baby, take to a vet and try to get a splint and tend to her in my home until she gets better. I plan on taking her outside to my balcony every day for few hours when it is shade so that her family can see her.

I have 25-27 resident crows here for a decade+, their numbers are 70-80 in summers. Babies are kicked out in January. They will eat from my hand, they will sit on my shoulders and lap... but I can't touch them.

They are extremely cautious. Once I fixed the wood arm on a bench that they were sitting on for years every day. They did not come close to that bench for a week.

Any ideas how I can catch her? She is very active.

EDIT: For now, best option seems to be throwing a blanket and hope to get it right first time.

1 week I am seeing her. Moving around and being fed fine by family but she can't perch, nails already growing. I wonder if something can be done for deformity.

House Crow (Corvus Splendens)

Palm Jumeirah, AE

EDIT: No rehabber or sanctuary here. I'd appreciate feedback as to how I can personally help.

EDIT2: As per malphas_says_hi's feedback, I called Municipality again. They said if I catch the bird, they would let their Veterinary Services Dept take her. However, I am not trusting this process, since most vets would euthanize the bird probably.

EDIT3: Decided to leave the bird alone as per feedback from valuable crow lovers. I will throw more food to her and her feeder siblings every morning. Water they have everywhere (pool, irrigation pipes, fountain, etc).

Thank you for your time and support, appreciated!

FINAL EDIT: I decided to catch her and tend her myself.

WARNING: Motion Sickness / Swearing

House Crow (Corvus Splendens)

Palm Jumeriah, AE

If you have time, here is 5 minutes nonstop attack of Blind Motherfscker. He is husband of Whitey. Knows me 14 years. Will still attack each year, even when Whitey is eating from my hand!

Every time you turn your back, it is a direct hit to the back of head! I used to think he is blind, but recently I realized he is not. Just an ahole!

Bonus footage near the end :)

NOTE: Before those judgmental types who have seen these birds only in movies start lecturing or screaming bloody murder... I tire him every morning so he attacks residents and guests less during nesting season. He is also free to f off to some area where there are no benches and not so many people! Like behind the building.

NOTE2: I don't like BMfscker. He is harassing residents and hotel guests and they removed nests of my other crows before because of him. He is the only one that attacks people.

WARNING: LOUD

House Crow (Corvus Splendens), Palm Jumeirah, AE

There are 70-80 them. I thought each one will take a bite.

Son of Blackie II, took whole slice of my 4th July Birthday Cake before I could even straighten myself to record the video and fscked off! You can even see him adjusting balance point so the load would not split. They are skillful!

Normally they are so nice and polite when I am giving kibbles! I thought I could just watch them share peacefully my bday treat! NOT!

Duchess letting me feed her babies but carefully watching! Slow mo!

Full here: https://www.reddit.com/r/crows/comments/1u8hy9p/duchess_letting_me_feed_her_babies/

House Crow (Corvus Splendens)

Palm Jumeirah, AE

I love my buddies. All 27 (~80 in summer) of them!

I owe them a lot. They helped heal my injury by keeping me company on boring walks after physio.

House Crow (Corvus Splendens)

Location: Dubai, AE

Bald lady Whitey (cameo appearance at 3:30 onwards) is 14+ years old. She is boss of an important location (Restaurant/Swimming Pool). Was bald from start. Probably battle scars. Still making babies!

And still every year, Whitey's husband, Blind Motherfucker (not in this vid), attacks me at nesting season!

This is Duchess' territory, Whitey just did a fly-by!

Edit: Blind mofo here. Each sortie is a hit when you turn your back! Warning: Swearing and motion sickness trigger. https://streamable.com/ny0raf

14+ yrs old, still sitting on eggs!

Boss. Bald head is probably battle scars. Shy of camera.

Wish her and all our beautiful mothers, human or otherwise, a happy mothers day!