The crow is gray … They rarely speak well of her, they usually scold her. Even if they remember her with a kind word, then somehow casually, going straight to the list of atrocities. And the list of this damn thing is really long.
This bird, for example, is very “fond” of other people's nests and their chicks. “Due to” ravens by the gray raven, the number of small birds is periodically reduced. And the numerous morning raids on city containers with garbage add to the wipers work. These birds and balconies, on which city dwellers sometimes leave something edible, will not lose sight of. And in the ability to "tag" new coats with a crow, no other feathery can compare at all. The nightly “concert”, organized by a cloud of birds almost covering the sky before flying off to sleep, is clearly not for the nervous.
Ornithologists of the last century would be surprised by the endless list of atrocities of these pranks, because before crows settled far from cities, in floodplains of rivers and mainly in pairs, and not hundreds, as now. The "antisocial antics" on their part began only thanks to the "conqueror" of nature - the man who began to systematically destroy the "harmful" birds of prey, which the crows were so afraid of. In the 50s of the last century, “free shooters” were even awarded cash prizes and benefits for the killing of birds of prey, supposedly destroying small and useful birds. Have you really thought about the balance established by nature itself?
Having lost its natural enemies, the gray crow began to feel quite at ease and already organized fishing itself - it fed itself and its chicks, daily ruining dozens of other people's nests. The raven population grew rapidly, with "proportional swiftness, " food "decreased.
And the crow, following the example of the peasant of pre-revolutionary Russia, moved to a city in a lean year, where she found both “milk shores” and “jelly rivers”. Snooping around the string bags then tied up by a townsman under their own window (not everyone could afford a refrigerator), an insolent bird, to an extreme degree, emptied the “food baskets”. And about scraps thrown out of windows, which not only wild dogs and basement cats did not disdain, but also the same crows, you can not even spread. In general, the number of once forest hocks was now growing incredibly rapidly in cities.
And again, the “conqueror of nature” took up his gun, driven by the promise of the authorities to obtain a license for the crow's paws (preferential, of course) to shoot another game …
But the crows merely scornfully screeched: “They didn’t attack those people! We are not falcon hawks, we are smarter! ” And that was the pure truth. An amazing mental ability led the raven into the city, the same ability allowed to escape from volleys of rifles. Crow instantly realized that a person is able not only to feed, but also to present nastiness.
Safety must be learned from the crow. Please note: the raven does not watch out for a standing person and can walk around a couple of meters, but if the two-legged suddenly decides to look at it, it will immediately fly off by 10 meters. Attempting to take a stone will immediately increase the distance by 20 meters. a crow out of sight.
The number of ravens was not reduced by guns, but by jumped prices on food and broom wipers. Now delicacies are no longer thrown out in such quantities, and the wipers clean not only the middle of the sidewalk, but all the streets.
Crow - a bird is not only smart, but also able to learn, and it learns quickly. One has to guess that a cracker soaked in a puddle is more convenient, knowledge will instantly spread throughout the entire crow flock. If one gray cheat comes up with the idea to bend open the “tongue” of the can with the remains of canned food, the rest will start to feast on the occasion the same way.
Moreover, the behavior of these amazing birds is always adequate to the current situation. For example, they are indifferent to cats, since it is very difficult to peck them, but a sick and weakened lonely kitten will immediately become the object of raven attention.
The biologist Manteuffel recalled in one of the articles how a flock of sparrows, delighted by a pair above the pool with pelicans, decided to take a swim in warm water. Their feathers got wet and, since it was winter, they began to freeze. Indifferent to this ravens turned into active pursuers. A flock of sparrows was overfished and eaten in a quarter of an hour.
The same collectivism and coordination of actions is observed when the crows crack down on more dangerous predatory birds dangerous to them. Avoiding meeting the last one on one, the flock pecks at the predator in a couple of minutes.
Moreover, the gray crow is a lover of entertainment and can not stand boredom. And she also has fun in the team. And their entertainment, of course, is consistent.
One biofacus student, for example, told how two crows, pretending to want to get into a dog bowl, waited for the dog to rush at them. At that moment, when the dog was turning to attack, another crow snatched a decent shred of wool from the back of the unfortunate dog. The entertainment continued until the dog, resentful and angry, cleaned the booth.
Another time, gray robbers attacked a dog peacefully gnawing a bone. While two of them were distracting, the third quickly stole this bone. Such actions clearly did not pursue any practical purpose, since the bone was immediately thrown out, and the crows scattered, quite croaking.
Now, most ornithologists confirm: the gray crow, not distinguished by its beauty, size, or voice, has no equal in mind neither among birds, nor among animals. Only dolphins and anthropoid apes are capable of competing with her in terms of quick wits …
