Crows, Red-tailed hawks, Turkey vultures, and kestrels. I’ve seen all of these harassed by starlings until they ground themselves. It just takes a few starlings to force one of those big birds down. Never seen them mess with the mocking bird that hassles our dogs, though.
Crows and their cousins, ravens, will go to great lengths to protect each other. They have a wide language of calls, some that will roust anyone within hearing distance bring them coming quickly.
My local bird center sells a very realistic fake stuffed life-sized crow with real feathers for people who want to keep them out of your garden or fruit trees. What you do with it is put it out in the dead of the night—sliding out of a pillowcase or box is best—so that they don’t see you with it nor associate you with it. Come the morning you make yourself out of sight for the day if possible, and what they will do is come hold a funeral for their fallen comrade. Seriously. And then they will leave. And they’ll stay away, because they do not want to be where a fellow crow has died. Leave it out there for a few weeks and then pick it up at nighttime, preferably not a full moon because you want it dark, and put it away till next year. I did that two years in a row and then forgot where I put it. It’s been three years, and the crows still make a point of flying around my small yard and never over nor do they land. Cherry, apple, peach, plum trees, and they don’t touch them.
marilynnbyerly over 2 years ago
I just saw some pictures on Quora of crows harassing other birds, pets, and wild animals. Tails being pulled were their standard MO.
LookingGlass Premium Member over 2 years ago
Those crows could be the murder of you!!
;-)
momofalex7 over 2 years ago
Don’t mess with crows.
The Reader Premium Member over 2 years ago
Welcome to Alfred Hitchcock’s world, Rover.
Doug K over 2 years ago
Barking at crows is nothing to crow about.
[It (they) may come back to peck you.]
Calvinist1966 over 2 years ago
Rover could end up with crowing pains.
robertdkrebs Premium Member over 2 years ago
Birds of a feather!
Catfeet Premium Member over 2 years ago
They’re coming to get you, Rover!
John Wiley Premium Member over 2 years ago
Crows, Red-tailed hawks, Turkey vultures, and kestrels. I’ve seen all of these harassed by starlings until they ground themselves. It just takes a few starlings to force one of those big birds down. Never seen them mess with the mocking bird that hassles our dogs, though.
mymontana over 2 years ago
Oh, Rover !!! Hurry Home !!!
Aficionado over 2 years ago
Beware. A group of then is called a “murder” of crows.
Red Bird over 2 years ago
Birds of a feather flock together!
oakie817 over 2 years ago
oh, nevermore
WCraft Premium Member over 2 years ago
Actually he is tricking them by leading them to a bakery. They’re making a special pie and they need 4 and 20 blackbirds
raybarb44 over 2 years ago
Crows have very long memories AND they hold grudges. Don’t mess with them…..
swanridge over 2 years ago
Crows and their cousins, ravens, will go to great lengths to protect each other. They have a wide language of calls, some that will roust anyone within hearing distance bring them coming quickly.
g04922 over 2 years ago
They are social and very smart….
mjjohnson7587 Premium Member over 2 years ago
Should be magpies. They harass and tease our dogs all the time.
thejanith Premium Member over 2 years ago
Poor Rover got himself in deeper than he’d planned. Thanks for the laugh. Great way to start a day.
amaryllis2 Premium Member over 2 years ago
My local bird center sells a very realistic fake stuffed life-sized crow with real feathers for people who want to keep them out of your garden or fruit trees. What you do with it is put it out in the dead of the night—sliding out of a pillowcase or box is best—so that they don’t see you with it nor associate you with it. Come the morning you make yourself out of sight for the day if possible, and what they will do is come hold a funeral for their fallen comrade. Seriously. And then they will leave. And they’ll stay away, because they do not want to be where a fellow crow has died. Leave it out there for a few weeks and then pick it up at nighttime, preferably not a full moon because you want it dark, and put it away till next year. I did that two years in a row and then forgot where I put it. It’s been three years, and the crows still make a point of flying around my small yard and never over nor do they land. Cherry, apple, peach, plum trees, and they don’t touch them.
Bambihunter6 over 2 years ago
A large group of crows is called a “Murder.” Two crows are called “Attempted Murder.”
Tom Phillips Premium Member over 2 years ago
One could get murdered by a murder of crows
david_42 over 2 years ago
I wish the crows wouldn’t chase the hawks away from the yummy squirrels.