User
There is a half size Crow on my front step. It doesn’t exactly look sick, but it’s not going away. Maybe it has an injured wing, but I’m not sure.
When I try to move it, two huge crows appeared in my front yard screaming and squawking. I moved the half size crow from the front step to the front lawn, and the two large crowds were flying back-and-forth and screaming. What is going on and what should I do next.
ChatGPT
It sounds like the smaller crow might be a fledgling (a young bird that has just left the nest). At this stage in their life, fledglings might spend several days on or near the ground while they're learning to fly. They're not abandoned, and their parents are likely nearby, keeping a watchful eye on them. This might explain the behavior of the two larger crows, which could be the parents.
Crows are very social and protective birds, especially when it comes to their young. This is likely the reason they were squawking and swooping when you moved the fledgling. They probably perceived your actions as a threat to their offspring.
Here's what you can do:
Give it space: Keep your distance from the fledgling and observe it from a window if possible. The parents may be reluctant to approach the young bird if people are nearby.
Avoid pets: Keep any pets away from the fledgling to prevent them from causing harm to the bird.
Provide food and water (optional): You could provide some food and water, but this is not always necessary as the parents are likely still feeding it. If you do decide to feed it, avoid bread and instead opt for bird seed or unsalted peanuts.
Observe for a longer period: If the fledgling doesn't fly away after a few days, or if it appears to be injured (not just awkward or stumbling, which is normal for a fledgling), then you might want to consider calling a local wildlife rescue organization for advice. They are equipped to handle situations like this and can provide the appropriate care for the bird if necessary.
Remember, it's always best to let nature take its course. If the parents are around and the bird isn't in immediate danger, it's usually best to leave it be.
User
Are the two large crows likely a male and female couple?
ChatGPT
Yes, that's very likely. Crows are monogamous, meaning they pair up with a mate and stay together for life. They share in the responsibilities of raising their offspring, including protecting them from perceived threats. So, it's probable that the two larger crows you saw are the parents of the smaller one.
Crows are also known for their complex social structure. They live in family groups, which can sometimes include extended family members helping to care for the young. This cooperative behavior is part of what makes crows such interesting and intelligent animals.
User
It’s May in California. Is that a time we would expect to see a half size fledgling crow?
ChatGPT
Yes, it is quite possible. In North America, including California, crows typically breed in the spring and early summer. They usually lay their eggs in April, and it takes about 20 days for the eggs to incubate. Then, after hatching, the chicks stay in the nest for around 30 days before they fledge (leave the nest).
So, considering this timeline, seeing a fledgling crow in May is plausible. The exact timing can vary depending on local conditions and individual circumstances, but it's definitely within the range of what you might expect.
User
Today is only May 10, and this is a half size crow, so these crows weren’t starting to breed in March or April.
ChatGPT
You're correct; if you're seeing a half-size crow fledgling in early May, it suggests that these crows may have started their breeding cycle earlier than the typical April timeframe. This isn't entirely unheard of as the timing can vary based on factors like location, weather, and individual bird behavior.
Crows in warmer climates or those that have ample food resources might start breeding earlier than their counterparts in cooler regions. Since you're in California, it's possible that the milder, warmer climate may have encouraged an earlier breeding season.
If the bird is indeed a fledgling, it's also important to note that fledglings can vary in size and feather development. It's possible for a fledgling to be around half the size of an adult and still be relatively newly out of the nest.
If you're still unsure or concerned about the bird's health or safety, it would be a good idea to contact a local wildlife rehabilitation center. They could provide more specific advice based on your observations and their knowledge of local wildlife behavior.
User
How did this fledgling, which is half the size of an adult, get from the nest somewhere to my front step? I mean, at least, for me, it doesn’t act like it can fly.
ChatGPT
When young birds are first learning to fly, their initial attempts often don't take them very far. This period in their development, when they've left the nest but aren't yet good at flying, is called the "fledgling" stage. It's quite normal for a fledgling to spend some time on the ground, and they can sometimes end up in unexpected places, like your front step.
The fledgling may have fluttered, hopped, or semi-flown from its nest to your front step. It's not unusual for fledglings to appear as if they can't fly. In fact, their first flights are usually more like controlled falls. Over the course of a few days, they gradually strengthen their wings and improve their flying skills.
The parents typically keep watch over their fledgling during this stage, feeding it and protecting it from predators as best they can. If the fledgling is in immediate danger, such as from a cat or a busy road, you might want to move it to a safer spot nearby. Otherwise, it's usually best to leave it alone and let the parents care for it.
Again, if the fledgling doesn't seem to improve after a few days or appears to be injured, it would be a good idea to contact a local wildlife rehabilitation center. They can provide further guidance based on the specifics of the situation.
User
The adults must have been feeding it in the nest. Will they also feed it if it’s spent a day on my front step
ChatGPT
Yes, adult crows will indeed continue to feed and care for their fledglings even after they've left the nest. This is a critical period in the fledgling's life as it learns to fly and forage for food.
The parents may be waiting for a safe opportunity to approach and feed the fledgling, especially if there are humans or pets nearby. This could explain why you might not see the parents feeding the fledgling, even though they're likely still doing so when they have the chance.
As I mentioned before, it's best to observe from a distance and minimize any potential threats in the area. For example, you might want to keep pets inside or make sure they can't get to the fledgling. The less disturbance there is, the more comfortable the parents will be in continuing to care for their young.
User
Would an adult crow in the situation attack a human? I mean will it bite or peck? If it bites or pecks do I need a rabies shot?
ChatGPT
While it's uncommon for crows to attack humans, they can become aggressive if they perceive a threat to their young or themselves. If they do attack, it's usually in the form of swooping or dive-bombing rather than biting or pecking.
As for the rabies concern, it's highly unlikely. In the United States, rabies in birds is extremely rare. Rabies is mainly a disease of mammals. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most of the recent human rabies cases in the U.S. have resulted from bites by bats. Therefore, a bite or peck from a crow would not typically warrant a rabies shot.
If you are bitten or pecked by a crow, the main concern would be the potential for bacterial infection, similar to any other minor wound. If this happens, wash the area thoroughly with soap and warm water and monitor for signs of infection such as redness, swelling, or pus. Seek medical attention if these signs occur or if you're concerned about the wound.
To minimize the chance of an aggressive interaction with the adult crows, it's best to keep a respectful distance from the fledgling and avoid any actions that might be seen as threatening. If you need to move the fledgling to a safer location, you might want to wear gloves and move quickly but calmly to reduce the chance of provoking the adults.
User
Sometimes I call out “ack ack” to the crowd and they reply from the tree.
ChatGPT
Crows are highly intelligent birds known for their complex vocalizations and behaviors. They use a variety of calls to communicate with each other and react to their environment. If you've been interacting with them vocally, it's possible that they've associated your calls with your presence and are responding in kind.
"Cawing" or "ack-ack" sounds are common in crow vocalizations. They can have various meanings depending on the context, including alerting others to a potential threat, calling to their mates or offspring, or expressing their location to other crows.
By making these sounds, you might be initiating some form of communication. However, it's important to remember that we don't fully understand the complexity of crow language. They might be responding to your calls because they're curious, alarmed, or for some other reason entirely.
Interacting with wildlife in this way can be interesting and rewarding, but remember to always respect their space and needs, especially when dealing with a situation like a fledgling out of its nest.
User
Do we know much about the language of crows? I mean, somebody must’ve study that in some detail.
ChatGPT
Yes, the communication and intelligence of crows have been subjects of considerable scientific research. We've learned that crows use a variety of calls, each with its own meaning. Some calls are used to warn of danger, others are used to communicate location or status within the group, and still others may be used in social interactions.
One fascinating aspect of crow communication is their ability to mimic sounds, including human speech and environmental noises. This mimicking ability is not fully understood but is believed to play a role in their social interactions.
Crows are also known to communicate through non-vocal means. For example, they use body language and even tools to express themselves and interact with their environment.
Recent research has revealed that crows may have an even more complex system of communication than previously thought. A study published in the journal "Nature Communications" in 2021 suggested that crows may possess a form of consciousness and can perceive the world in a way similar to humans and non-human primates.
Despite these advances, there is still much that we don't know about how crows communicate. Their vocalizations and behaviors are complex and can vary between individuals and populations. Understanding the "language" of crows is an ongoing area of study and one that continues to reveal the remarkable intelligence of these birds.
User
Sometimes they seem to just call back-and-forth to each other with repetitive calls for a long time, and nothing seems to happen. Are they just entertaining themselves?
ChatGPT
Crows, like many other bird species, use vocalizations for a variety of purposes, not all of which are fully understood by humans. While some calls are clearly associated with specific actions or events, such as warning of a predator, others might seem repetitive or unnecessary from a human perspective.
Here are a few possible explanations for this behavior:
Maintaining Social Bonds: Crows are highly social animals that live in groups known as "murders." They may use repetitive calls to maintain social bonds, much like humans engage in small talk or chatter.
Territorial Displays: Repetitive calling might be a way to assert territory, signaling to other crows that the area is occupied.
Communication with Offspring: Adult crows could be communicating with their young, teaching them certain calls or responses.
Alarm Calls: Crows are known to have different alarm calls to alert others to specific kinds of threats. If they perceive a threat, they might repeat the call.
Locating Each Other: The repetitive call could be a way for crows to locate each other, especially in dense foliage where visibility might be low.
While it's possible they might be "entertaining" themselves in some sense, it's more likely that these repetitive calls serve a practical purpose in the crows' communication or social structure. The precise nature of that purpose can vary depending on the specific circumstances and the individual birds involved.
User
When the small birds fledge and leave the nest, what did they do? Do they quickly build their own nest? Or do they just sleep in a tree without a nest?
ChatGPT
When young birds, or fledglings, first leave the nest, they don't immediately go off and start their own families or build their own nests. They spend a period of time learning and growing under the watchful eyes of their parents. This period can last for several weeks, during which the fledglings are learning essential skills like flying, foraging for food, and avoiding predators.
During this stage, fledglings often sleep in trees or bushes but not in a formed nest. They roost on branches or in areas that offer some protection, like dense foliage or shrubbery.
As the fledglings grow older and become fully independent, they will eventually leave their parents' territory. This typically happens before the next breeding season starts. Young crows often join groups of other non-breeding birds before they find a mate and start their own families.
Crows are social birds and often live in communal roosts when they are not breeding. These roosts can consist of hundreds to thousands of birds and provide warmth and protection. They only build nests when it's time to lay eggs, and they usually build a new one each year. The nest-building process is typically a cooperative effort between the male and female in a mated pair.
User
If they are born in April or May, do they breed when they are one year old? How do they suggest a mate for life?
ChatGPT
Crows typically reach sexual maturity and start breeding around two to three years of age, although this can vary between individuals and populations. So, a crow hatched in April or May would not usually start breeding until at least a couple of springs later.
When it comes to selecting a mate, crows engage in a courtship process that can involve a variety of behaviors such as mutual preening, food sharing, and vocalizing. Once they form a pair bond, they usually stay together for life. While we don't fully understand how crows choose their mates, it's likely that factors such as health, vitality, and the ability to hold a good territory play a role.
Once a pair is formed, they work together to build a nest, raise their young, and defend their territory. They communicate with each other through a variety of vocalizations and behaviors, and they may even engage in cooperative problem-solving.
It's worth noting that while crows typically mate for life, they are not always completely monogamous. There have been observations of "extra-pair" copulations, where a crow mates with an individual that is not its regular partner. This is a fairly common behavior in many bird species.
User
How many seasons do the crows usually live?
ChatGPT
The lifespan of a crow can vary greatly depending on a range of factors, including species, habitat, and whether they are wild or in captivity.
In the wild, many crows don't survive their first year due to factors like predation, disease, or human-related threats. However, those that do can live for a long time. American crows, for instance, can live to be 7-8 years on average in the wild, though some individuals have been known to live much longer. The oldest known wild American crow was reported to be over 20 years old, according to the U.S. Geological Survey's Bird Banding Laboratory.
In captivity, where threats are minimized, crows can live even longer. Some captive crows have lived to be over 20 years, and there have been reports of crows living into their 30s.
So, if we consider a "season" to be a year, a wild crow that survives its first year could live through approximately 7-8 seasons on average, or even more.
User
If they are city crows, do they tend to stay in the same area or could they decide to move five or 10 miles away for the next season? Assuming nothing unusual was going on
ChatGPT
Crows, including those that live in cities, tend to be territorial and will usually stay within the same general area throughout their lives, especially if food sources and nesting sites are reliable. That said, the size of their territory can vary depending on the availability of resources. In urban areas, where food is often plentiful, a crow's territory may be relatively small.
However, crows also exhibit a behavior known as roosting, where they gather in large numbers outside of their individual territories, often in the evening. These roosting sites can sometimes be located several miles from a crow's daytime territory. The crows will travel back and forth between their individual territories and the communal roost.
In the non-breeding season, some crows may also move around more extensively, especially in colder climates. These movements are typically driven by the availability of food and can involve travel over relatively large distances. But these are not "migrations" in the typical sense, as the crows will often return to their original territories when food becomes available again.
So, while it's possible for a crow to move five or ten miles away, it's more likely that they would stay within a smaller area, assuming there are no major changes in their habitat or food availability. If a crow does move a significant distance, it's often in response to some sort of environmental pressure or change, such as a lack of food or a major disturbance in their previous territory.
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I looked at YouTube videos about fledgling crows. Several of them were also on top steps or door steps, doorways, like the crow on my front step.
ChatGPT
It's not uncommon to find fledgling birds, including crows, in unexpected places like doorsteps or driveways. As fledglings are learning to fly, they may end up on the ground or in other exposed locations. Here's why:
1 Learning to Fly: When fledglings first leave the nest, they aren't proficient flyers. They often spend time on the ground building strength and practicing their flying skills. During this stage, they might end up in open areas, including doorsteps or patios.
2 Exploration: Fledglings are also starting to explore their environment. They might end up in odd places simply due to curiosity or as part of their learning process.
3 Safety: Although it might seem counterintuitive, being on a doorstep could provide some protection for a fledgling. Predators might be less likely to approach a house due to human activity.
4 Visibility: Sometimes, it might just be that these are the places where people are most likely to notice and film fledglings, leading to a higher number of such videos online.
In general, if you find a fledgling in an exposed location, the best course of action is usually to leave it alone, as its parents are likely nearby and will continue to care for it. If the bird is in immediate danger (e.g., from traffic or pets), you could consider moving it a short distance to a safer location. If the bird appears injured or sick, contacting a local wildlife rehabilitation center would be a good step.
User
I love suggestion #4.
ChatGPT
Indeed, suggestion #4 highlights an interesting aspect of human perception and the availability of information. The fact that many videos show fledgling crows on doorsteps or similar locations doesn't necessarily mean that these places are preferred by fledglings. Instead, it might just reflect the fact that humans are more likely to notice and film fledglings in these locations.
In other words, these videos could represent a sort of "sampling bias" – people are more likely to see (and thus, record) fledglings that end up in conspicuous places like doorsteps. Fledglings hidden away in trees or bushes are less likely to be filmed, even though they might be just as common.
It's always fascinating to consider how our human perspectives and behaviors can influence the information we encounter, even in something as seemingly straightforward as videos of fledgling birds!
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Later the same day, after dark, the fledgling as in the yard and bushes across the street, wandering around, and the parents watching and occasoinally crowing.
This morning, there was no sign of the fledgling. However, there were two large crows in our tree. They followed me down the block, and then through a park, advancing one tree at a time as I walked, following me, and sometimes cawing but not too much. What was going on?
ChatGPT
It sounds like the fledgling crow managed to move from your yard across the street, which is a good sign. Even if it doesn't appear to be flying well, it's normal for fledglings to spend some time on the ground as they build strength and coordination. The adults were likely keeping an eye on the fledgling and continuing to provide care.
As for the two large crows following you, it's possible that they recognized you from earlier interactions and were curious or cautious. Crows have excellent memories and are known to recognize individual humans. They could have associated you with the fledgling's situation, especially if you were the one who moved the fledgling to your lawn.
Their cawing could be a form of communication between the two crows, or it could be directed at you. It's hard to say for certain without understanding the full context of their behaviors. It's also possible that they were simply moving through their territory in the same direction as you by coincidence.
In any case, it's great to hear that the fledgling seems to be doing alright, and that the adult crows are still in the area. Continue to keep an eye on the situation and provide space for the crows to go about their natural behaviors. If you have any concerns about the fledgling's health or safety, it would be best to contact a local wildlife rehabilitation center for advice.
