atriel2's Journal, 04 Aug 20

That is so cool! When I started to feed a family of crows they left a feather right in front of my porch, I absolutely think it was a gift :) 

These guys get biscuits from my daughter in law and I give them fruits and veggies. We've named the large male, "Diablo" and he'll tap on the metal chimney thing and scream into it if it's been too long without an offering. 😂😂 They are incredibly smart in creepy, creepy, ways. I absolutely believe that they give reciprocal gifts and I'm positive your family did too. 🙂 

That is really cool. 

Thank you, GibJig! We've rehabbed a few house sparrows too. One of them is developmentally disabled from being kicked out of her nest 3 times so she lives inside. The others have joined the colonies of house sparrows that live in our eaves and bushes. One of those girls will fly to my hand or shoulder if I call her. The others will fly to a nearby branch and peep at me. Between the ravens and the sparrows we've become the neighborhood witches. Or Disney princesses depending on the person you ask. 

Nothing wrong with either. I prefer Better Gnomes and Cauldrons myself... 😉  

Lovely! 

Thanks Shirfleur! 

I'm pretty okay with both, Gib 😉 

What a great experience with your raven family. I love feeding the birds. I put a scone out daily for my regular visitors! 

I love birds so much, Red. I'm sure your feathered friends appreciate the scones. ❤️ 

Thank you for sharing nature’s gifts❣️ Hope you catch up on work so you may rest 💞💞💞 

That is so so cool about your tame Sparrows and the ravens! We don't have ravens here but the crow families are incredible. We had a baby once that was having some troubles and the parents and aunts and uncles, or whomever were trying to help it were frantic. We feed the whole clan for a few days in particular and made sure there was water for them. They did bring a gift in return! They stole some army man from another yard and put it where we always left food! But, I have never in my life heard about a sparrow remaining that tame and "thankful" for being saved. Totally amazing!!!  

Keyten - you are so lovely and kind. 🌹❤️ 

Moopie - I am so close to taking a week down! 💗💞 

Melissa - House sparrows imprint really easily on anyone that's nearby when their eyes open. It isn't quite what it looks like when you see it on t.v. or movies - it isn't instant. So Nell, the inside sparrow was kicked out of her nest 3 times and because of that, she'll never be able to live in the wild or on her own. She thinks my husband is her mate so during breeding season she only has eyes for him and she's incredibly vicious with everyone else except for my daughter in law who she thinks is her mom. The outside sparrows aren't really tame as much as Thumbelina thinks I'm her mom, so of I call for her she'll come to me. The other two girls were older so they know we aren't their moms but they do think we're part of their flock. Just the weird, flightless, inside dwelling flock. 

Melissa (cont.) All of the Corvids are really smart and really complex with pretty tight social structure and what appears to be regional dialects and rudimentary language. And some very basic tool.using skills. They're both endlessly fascinating and a little creepy too. I absolutely believe that they left you a "thank you" gift. If they'd stuck around they would have paid attention to your reaction upon finding the gifts they'd left to figure out which ones were more desirable.  

I am fascinated by your sparrows! Thank you for explaining! I never imagined those tiny bird having such personality! It is so amazing the relationship you have with "your" birds! I have read a lot about crows and find them amazing. We don't routinely feed them, because they are so insistent and noisy! Heavens they are rowdy! But we always have water out for them and they are welcome to help themselves to the cracked corn I give the jays. We get so many woodpeckers and a pretty good number of other birds. We have a couple feeding stations for the birds and they provide so much joy in watching them.  

I had a great long conversation about your birds and what you said about crows and ravens with my hubby and oldest daughter! I had to read them what you said!! 😁  

Melissa - There were research scientists at some university that basically put on masks, kidnapped crows, and tagged them, then released them. The crows not only recognized these people later -without masks. They also taught their offspring to recognize them too. And as if that isn't creepy enough - they also knew when someone was wearing one of the masks but wasn't one of the people that kidnapped them. The ravens are pretty noisy too. The large male taps on the metal chimney cover and screams into it. It's the best. The sparrows are vicious little things. We lose as many as we manage to save and that can be pretty heartbreaking. But when we can save one and it integrates into the flock it's the sweetest thing.  

Thank you for sharing so much! Wow! I have heard a bit about how they can transfer knowledge to offspring. I'd like to ask them how... Cuz that is tricky for me! 😁 Especially wirh being so busy, I appreciate your taking a moment to share this super interesting info. I shall have to read more about them myself!