Something To Crow About?

I could NOT think of anything to write about this week. Seriously, my brain is currently a vast and barren wasteland, with random bits of thoughts flying about in no discernable order. Try as I might I could not come up with something quippy, interesting or heartfelt. And since I am still on a break from book writing, I have no current tales to tell about my writing process.

So this week I am sharing a list of ten random facts about crows. Anyone who knows me is fully aware that I am NOT a fan of birds of any kind. Even chicken on the dinner table can be a bit much for me sometimes. But crows are another story altogether. They’re mysterious, creepy and smarter than you think. Here we go:

1. Crows hold funerals for their friends – crows often gather around a fallen friend, but it’s not what you think. While it may look like they’re mourning their dead, they are actually trying to learn about potential threats from the situation (about nearby animals, people, dangers) so they don’t suffer the same fate
2. Crows recognize faces – Better watch your P’s & Q’s! Studies show that crows have been knows to recognize humans associated with stressful situations (i.e. being held captive or abused). They can remember your face for up to five years, so be kind if there’s a crow around.
3. Crows mate for life – It’s no surprise that these highly intelligent and social birds will build nests together and raise their chick until one passes away. But while they mate for life, they do occasionally see other crows on the sly…
4. Crows live  a long time – In the wild crows can live for up to twenty years. The oldest recorded crow in captivity was 59 years old.
5. A tight-knit family – Unlike other species, crow chicks often stay with their parents for up to five years helping to raise new chicks that hatch.
6. Crows use tools – No need to lock away your power drill, but crows have been observed using tools. Whether using a splinter of wood to bore a hole in a fence or a cup to pour water over dry food, these birds are amazing problem solvers and are not afraid to get their claws dirty to do it
7. A group of crows gathered together is called a murder. A murder can number into the thousands.
8. Crows are everywhere, almost – You can find a species of crows living on every continent except Antarctica.
9. Say What? – You might not be able to tell the difference, but crows have around 250 calls.
10. They can earn their keep – A worker at a French theme park named Puy du Fou once trained two raves (members of the crow family) to pick up litter.

That’s it for this week. Back next week with a regular post. You’ll see these random posts from time to time and I hope you enjoy them. If you have a topic you’d like me to blog about, drop me a line. I’d love suggestions.

Happy Tuesday!🏖