[edenwatcher]

Here is something that Sue observed at the local country park last week. We don't have the relevant volume of BWP (only the Concise) so we're not sure if it has been observed previously...
The country park is tyrannised by 3 muscovy ducks which basically take all the bread that is going, meaning that other species have had to take extreme measures to get any. Sue observed two carrion crows taking bread from the surface of the lake, close inshore (sounds a bit like frigatebirds!). Has anyone come across similar behaviour, is it reported in BWP, or is a note to BB called for?

Rob

[a.dancy]

This is interesting. It may well be behaviour worth flagging up with BB. I would consider watching to see if this is a regular occurence and if it is bring it to the attention of the BBC in Bristol. They may well send someone up to film it for their archive (just a thought). With crows being intelligent and sociable creatures this may well become learned behaviour which may spread in some locations. This has not happened with herons which steal fishermans bait and use it as a lure to encourage fish to within striking distance. Let me know please how you get on.

[colonelboris]

Oh dear - Mrs Boris is going to be very upset with me... We've got a couple of crows here that aren't averse to wading in to get bread from the water as well as hawking it off the surface as they fly over. She asked me to ask on here if it's normal behaviour and I didn't bother as I didn't think it was worth mentioning...
Silly Colonel Boris...

[ghostrider]

Originally Posted by colonelboris

Oh dear - Mrs Boris is going to be very upset with me... We've got a couple of crows here that aren't averse to wading in to get bread from the water as well as hawking it off the surface as they fly over. She asked me to ask on here if it's normal behaviour and I didn't bother as I didn't think it was worth mentioning...
Silly Colonel Boris...

2 carrion crows visit my garden every day, i've seen them in the apple trees, on the fence and even eating the bread thrown out by my neighbour, but whilsts they're very curious they haven't actually fed from the bird table yet. I think it's only a matter of time before they do.

[scfmerlin]

Hi,
On a similar theme, whilst in Northampton recently I was watching a Shoveler dive habitually just like a Tufted Duck / Pochard etc.. I know this has been documented before but I personally have never witnessed it.
regards
Merlin

Originally Posted by ghostrider

2 carrion crows visit my garden every day, i've seen them in the apple trees, on the fence and even eating the bread thrown out by my neighbour, but whilsts they're very curious they haven't actually fed from the bird table yet. I think it's only a matter of time before they do.