The Daily Bucket is a regular feature of the Backyard Science group, a place where everyone is welcome to note the observations you have made of the natural world around you. Fledglings, insects, blossoms, fish, climate, reptiles and/or amphibians: all are worthy additions to the bucket. Ask questions if you have them and someone here may well have an answer. All we ask is that you let us know where you're located, as close as you're comfortable revealing.
Seattle. May 14, 2013.
It's hard not to interpret that behavior as hatred
- how the crows feel about owls. They are so intelligent, you have to assume they are thinking, remembering, planning. I can understand why, since they are preyed upon by owls, but that relentless group attack mode has a malevolent atmosphere.
- OceanDiver, May 11, 2013.
One of the watchers catches up to me in the Forest with an observation. She'd seen one of the adults from the middle nest carrying something to a branch close to the nest, something large and dark, watched as the owl dug in to its meal. Things dropped as it fed. Under the owl's perch she found clumps of black feathers.
The next day another watcher spoke of seeing an owl flying toward the middle nest with a crow in its talons.
The owls at the newest nest have eluded me. I have heard crow talk nearby for weeks, have spent much time peering down from the ridge above the nest tree searching for any sign, but have so far come up empty.
This time the crow talk is far more intense than I've ever heard. There are so many of them, and even more flying in from the deeper places in the Forest, gathering above me as I try to find their focus.
And there it is - one Barred Owl flushing diagonally from a hidden perch into the open and eight crows, ten crows, now at least a dozen and more crows careening down from everywhere into that open space, screaming as they dive. One makes contact. Owl staggers sideways. A second scores from above. Owl staggers again and loses altitude, scraping the ground for enough of an instant that the crows find their advantage. They dive and scream from all directions, one after another making contact, and I hold my breath, not knowing what I could or would do if this owl cannot find a way out.
The scientist in me says, "Observe and record". The human in me says "No!". The owl twists up through a scrim of crow into the shelter of the canopy. The crows gather around, more and more arriving every moment. They come from the deeper parts of the Forest, where their cousin was taken.
May 14, 2013. One of the Barred Owls from the newest nest escaped a mob of crows.
###
Your turn. What's been going on in your natural neighborhood? Everyone is welcome to contribute.
There's so much happening in the Forest right now, I just can't stay away. You all carry on and I promise to be back in the early evening PDT to rec and comment.