As one would expect the birds are bellying up to the feeder as this late winter storm unfolds. Lots of snow and ice up here in the hinterland ... what was more interesting than the fact that the birds could anticipate the storm long before it was evident to my eyes, was the behaviour of the neighborhood crows.
At least nine of them seem to be ignoring the fact that a storm is brewing and have been flying around for over an hour - seemingly riding the wind like a roller coaster. They are flying in groups and as individuals into the wind and then across it - climbing, diving and soaring - more like a game than anything else. For a while a raven joined the melee but left when the crows refused play nice and instead pursued it relentlessly .... but not to be outdone, it came back low through the trees, targeted a crow, swooped up below it and put the run on it - chasing it for about a kilometer back and forth through the skies above my house and then it flew to roost - I presume. As I write this the crows have not given up and are still riding the winds. Btw it VERY windy up here right now. Must be fun to be a crow - I guess. Geoff Carpentier www.avocetnatureservices.com _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
