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dorothy-jane · Thursday 27th May 2010, 09:17

Has anyone else witnessed a crow standing over an underground bees nest and ambushing the bees as they return from their foraging? I watched a single crow for several minutes yesterday as it expertly caught every single bee that returned to the nest, jumping up and catching the bee as it came in to land and decapitating it by snapping it with its beak on the ground before eating it. Is this behaviour well known? I was a bit shocked because I believe bees are in short supply and I was dismayed to see this crow killing them over and over again. The bees were small, hairless, dark brown coloured, definitely not bumble bees.

**delia todd** · Thursday 27th May 2010, 09:31

Hi Dorothy-Jane and a warm welcome to you on behalf of the Staff and Moderators.

I took the liberty of moving your thread to the Birds and Birding Forum, so the observations you recorded might get a wider discussion. I've never heard of this behaviour before either.

Keep an eye on the Scottish Bash Discussion thread We usually have a few each year and they are all great fun. You'd be most welcome to join us if you can manage.

The forum for all things Scottish is HERE.

D

Keith Dickinson · Thursday 27th May 2010, 18:51

Hi Dorothy-Jane
That is unusual behaviour, and not something I've seen in over 25 years birding. All corvids (crows and allies) are pretty intelligent birds and soon latch on to an easy meal, if too many learned this trick though, the bees would be in trouble.
I'm not good enough on bee id to hazard a guess at what species they were.

Nigel Davies · Friday 28th May 2010, 10:12

Hi Dorothy-Jane

Great observation, I know woodpeckers will raid bee-hives but I'm like Keith I have never see corvid go after bees. You were in the right place at the right time.
Keep watching and sharing your obersvations.
There is a lot we still do not know about birds.

All the best Nigel.

Thursday 27th May 2010, 09:17	#1
dorothy-jane Dorothy-Jane Join Date: May 2010 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 1	Crow behaviour (ambushing and eating wild bees) Has anyone else witnessed a crow standing over an underground bees nest and ambushing the bees as they return from their foraging? I watched a single crow for several minutes yesterday as it expertly caught every single bee that returned to the nest, jumping up and catching the bee as it came in to land and decapitating it by snapping it with its beak on the ground before eating it. Is this behaviour well known? I was a bit shocked because I believe bees are in short supply and I was dismayed to see this crow killing them over and over again. The bees were small, hairless, dark brown coloured, definitely not bumble bees.

Thursday 27th May 2010, 09:31	#2
delia todd Moderator but.......If I say the wrong thing put it down to Senior Moments Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Perthshire Posts: 90,237 My location	Hi Dorothy-Jane and a warm welcome to you on behalf of the Staff and Moderators. I took the liberty of moving your thread to the Birds and Birding Forum, so the observations you recorded might get a wider discussion. I've never heard of this behaviour before either. Keep an eye on the Scottish Bash Discussion thread We usually have a few each year and they are all great fun. You'd be most welcome to join us if you can manage. The forum for all things Scottish is HERE. D __________________ In between goals is a thing called life, that has to be lived and enjoyed 2006 63, 2007 52, 2008 46, 2009 32, 2010 31, 2011 27 Total 81 Latest Patch tick: Magpie The only true wisdom is knowing you know nothing - Socrates
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Thursday 27th May 2010, 18:51	#3
Keith Dickinson Opus Editor Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Leeds, Yorkshire Posts: 8,263 My location	Hi Dorothy-Jane That is unusual behaviour, and not something I've seen in over 25 years birding. All corvids (crows and allies) are pretty intelligent birds and soon latch on to an easy meal, if too many learned this trick though, the bees would be in trouble. I'm not good enough on bee id to hazard a guess at what species they were. __________________ Keith Newer scope, even newer camera, same idiot holding them though My Blog
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Friday 28th May 2010, 10:12	#4
Nigel Davies Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Norfolk England Posts: 372	Hi Dorothy-Jane Great observation, I know woodpeckers will raid bee-hives but I'm like Keith I have never see corvid go after bees. You were in the right place at the right time. Keep watching and sharing your obersvations. There is a lot we still do not know about birds. All the best Nigel.

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