Migration drivers

Migration is a global phenomenon; from mass migration of human refugees, to annual migrations of birds and whales.  How often do we stop to think about what drives migration?  Annual avian migrations are driven by climate and access to plentiful food supplies. For whales and salmon migration is associated with the breeding cycle as salmon travel upriver to spawn and die, while whales travel south to give birth in warm lagoons.  Migration of humans on the other hand is more of a disruptive phenomenon, whether migration over time from rural to urban areas in search of higher paid work, or triggered by conflict, as evidenced by the tidal wave of Syrian refugees spreading across Europe. In "Crows' Feat" the birds are driven by overpopulation, scarcity of resources, and environmental threats (disease and the encroachment of humans) to embark upon a more disruptive migration of their own.

Birdwatching - are the birds watching us too?

Birds are all around us.  All we have to do is stay quiet and look upward and sooner or later, we hear a song or from the corner of our eye, discern movement in the branches of a tree, and then we realize that the birds have been there all the time, watching us.
I first got into birdwatching when I spent three months working in East Africa.  I bought a pocket guide to local birds to help me identify the common garden species that I saw on my daily walks in the city, Kampala, that seemed beyond exotic to me.  I slowly became hooked and started on a quest to spot every bird in the guide, which thanks to several safaris, I almost completed.
Now I enjoy nothing more than observing birds in my Southern California garden, where hummingbirds, phoebes and woodpeckers are common visitors, and wherever I travel.  Last weekend for example, I was entranced watching Barrow's goldeneyes - diving ducks of the Pacific Northwest - bobbing and diving for food in the shallow waters of English Bay in Vancouver, British Columbia.
What if the tables were turned?  How often do we consider that birds may be studying us from the safety of their lofty perches as we go about our daily business?  Food for thought, and one of the ideas that led to my third novel "Crows' Feat".

More games in the snow - crow angels

Watch the crow rolling in the snow and nibbling at "crow cones"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_ta33bMB70

Crows using cars to crack walnuts in Japan

This video shows crows that have figured out how to use traffic to crack open walnuts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5_DuZ8WuMM
Watch as the crow drops the nut in the path of traffic and then waits for the cars to run over it before flying down to pick up the tasty nut pieces.

Fun and games - crow sledding

In this video a crow uses the lid from a jar as a sled to slide down a snow-covered rooftop. Crows are one of the few species (including humans and chimpanzees) that can make and use tools
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152054591023908&pnref=story

Understanding analogies

In this article and video hooded crows demonstrate their ability to understand analogies.
http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/crows-understand-analogies

The crows have learned that a tasty mealworm snack lies beneath the card that is analogous to the sample provided in the center, whether the two shapes are identical or different.

Introducing Crows' Feat

Crows are among the most intelligent of all species; they can make and use tools, mimic sounds and recognize individual humans and they are able to pass these skills down through the generations.
The purpose of this blog is to celebrate these remarkable birds and to collect links to articles and videos that showcase their achievements.

In my third novel “Crows’ Feat” when faced with extermination by an outbreak of West Nile Virus, the crows embark on their own Mission Impossible as they set out to steal a vaccine that can protect them.

“Crows’ Feat” draws on research by scientists around the world on crow biology, behavior and social interactions to create a thriller around these fascinating creatures.