Around 4 pm, they got up and started rummaging around in the dead leaves, looking for food. I happened to be standing at the window, and I noticed a few crows flying around. Suddenly, one of the crows flew towards one of the deer and nipped him in the butt. The deer jumped, being startled from behind like that. I thought maybe the crow had some wing or sight issue, and that he had hit the deer by accident.
Nope. It happened over and over again. The crow would land on the ground about two yards behind the deer. The deer would watch the crow for a minute, then face forward again or put his head down to eat, and the crow would fly right into his rear end again. The deer jumped, and it repeated. After watching this six or seven times in amazement, I felt bad for the deer and knocked hard on the window until they all flew or ran off. I'm not a fan of bullies, even if the one getting bullied eats all my flowers and shrubbery!
I couldn't really find anything online about it, but I did read that chimpanzees and crows are the only animals to use 'tools,' to get something done. There's your fact for the day!
On a completely different note, I just saw a commercial for Ore Ida potatoes and it finally dawned on me that they got their name by combining Oregon and Idaho. Duh! Where have I been?
Okay, this is like SO ironic that you posted about crows today because over the weekend I was preparing a post I will be publishing either this week or next on CROWS. I kid you not!!!
ReplyDeleteI have such a fascination with crows and I'm not even a big bird-person. And yes, have read how smart and aggressive they are. I read somewhere that they have the highest intelligence of birds.
"crows are the only animals to use 'tools,' to get something done. '
Yup!
And it is so interesting about Ore Ida potatoes because I did know that, so thanks for sharing, my friend!
X
Oooooo, I can't wait to read your post about crows. They are fascinating birds. I've always noticed that they are here on Sunday nights and Monday because it's TRASH Day on Monday! They KNOW!!!!!!! Freaky!
Delete"I'm not a fan of bullies, even if the one getting bullied eats all my flowers and shrubbery!"
ReplyDeleteLove it!
It's fascinating how the crows zoom in on the deer, so thanks for that fact for the day.
And thanks for setting me straight on Ore Ida because--duh!--I didn't know where the name came from either. All right-a!
Lol......isn't that funny that none of us knew about the Ore Ida thing? I guess I didn't know potatoes came from Oregon, too.
DeleteAre deer like cows and lie down if it's raining or snowing?
ReplyDeleteWas the cow nipping at bugs or um grass flavored poop?
I didn't know about the Ore Ida thing either.
The white tailed deer seem to sleep when we sleep. I've mostly noticed them on the ground at dawn, when we are all waking up. It was unusual that they were laying around all day.
DeleteI think the crow was trying to the deer out of his territory or something.
That is very interesting with the crow hitting the deer like that. The first thought that came to my mind was if the deer was infringing on something of the crow's. I don't think I shared this story with you; if I did, sorry, repeat (senior memory) but where we used to live there were rattle snakes around since the development had come, taken over their terrority, etc. I never saw one, thank you Lord, but the neighbor 2 doors down did day care. All her kids were outside playing but the dog was on alert, finally alerted her to the snake right by the bush by the BBQ so they got the kids inside the house, called animal control, etc. But what was fascinating when she stopped to think about it was that earlier in the day before the kids went out to play, the road runners that were in the area, one of them kept hitting her screen door over and over again (road runners go after rattle snakes). She thought the road runner was just being crazy, but she realized later the road runner was warning her and God probably directed it to do so.
ReplyDeleteI did know that about Ore Ida :)
betty
The roadrunner was 'knocking' on her door? That is crazy! Although we did have a goose knocking on our window years ago at the old house. Now I'm wondering why!!!
DeleteI giggled about you not knowing what OreIda meant. But then again, I have those "Oh, I get it!" moments all the time.
ReplyDeleteI heard something once about crows and their memory. Crows can recognize different people and hold grudges. They will attack a person repeatedly if the person has ever bothered them. Worse, they have a way of communicating with their comrades so that if one of their bird friends ever sees a that person out and about, they'll go after him/her. If they can recognize individual humans, maybe it's true for deer to, and that deer somehow a=offended a crow?
The Ore Ida thing seems obvious to me now, but I guess I never thought about it. Which is why I will never be an inventor!
DeleteI'm going to be extra nice to the crows now! That deer looked innocent enough, but maybe you are on to something!
I found this: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/science/26crow.html?_r=0
DeleteIt's the article about facial recognition in crows. I don't know why the words spaced out like that.
Deletelikely the crow was trying to shoo the deer away to get at whatever the deer were looking for under the leaves. crow will often watch other birds/animals waiting for them to point out or find some food and then try to chase the worker off so that the crows can then snag the goodies. i've witnessed those lovelies pester deer, fox, owls, and hawks. lazy snots they are.
ReplyDeletebut most of us fair-day farmers know about Ore and Ida. it's just the way it is.
I would think it was a food issue, but I'm not sure because it's just dead leaves and dirt back there. Not really sure what crows eat though as I've only ever seen them pick through garbage.
DeleteThey've been called the goats of the sky as in they'll eat almost anything. They prefer road kill or predator left-overs but will go for all sorts of things. Then again, they're ornery and will not hesitate to just harass other critters just because.
DeleteI was puzzled as to why the crow should keep on attacking the deer for no obvious reason. But both Agent and Xavier's comments make a lot of sense. Holding a grudge? Looking for food? Could be.
ReplyDeleteIt was the strangest thing!!! Wildlife is fascinating!
Deleteha! that's funny and weird that a bird would pick on a deer. maybe the deer had something on its butt the bird wanted. food?
ReplyDeleteI was hoping they'd come back today but it looks like the snow on the ground has kept the crows away.
Deleteha - I'm glad to hear you stuck up for the deer by knocking on the window (hard)
ReplyDeleteThe poor guy was being tormented!
DeleteWhat a site! Maybe the crow's nest was nearby. Do crows have nests?
ReplyDeleteI think they do. I saw a crow the other day picking up straw-type material on the ground, and I swear, he gave me the evil eye!!!
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