Neat article about Crow Behavior

Seems they don't forget a face.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/science/26crow.html?em=&pagewanted=print

That is neat.

Well I'm glad I feed them and not capture them, crows could hurt you if they decided to.

That is vey interesting!! I just know I love my big ol' crows! :)

Me too!

Pelle, thanks for a fascinating article. I have no doubt that birds have the ability to recognize and remember. We've had a "pet" raven for 17 years. Both my husband and I handle it and feed it, it follows us around and it talks to us. Many people say my sister and I look and sound alike, but if she visits, the raven scrutinizes her with an element of suspicion and then leaves. She has never done anything to harm or in any way upset this bird. It's just that he hasn't come to trust her. Two other ravens who've visited here for years have clearly demonstrated that they recognize us and will bring their babies very close - the ultimate sign of trust in such a smart bird.

I've noted that other birds that aren't noted for their intelligence respond in similar ways. We had only had our pet chicken for six days when a friend came to visit and the chicken ran off, extremely wary of this stranger. Although she had only known us for the six days, she had come to know and trust us within that short space of time.

I think most birds learn to recognise a person, I know the Robin and Great Tits in particular seem at ease with me. Interesting to note that the crows attacked the people with dangerous-looking masks, not the others who were taking part in the trapping which would suggest they are alerted by the dangerous look rather than recognition. Some moths have dangerous-looking patterns on their backs resembling fierce faces to ward of predators, I would think it's the same reaction with crows but I still believe birds learn to recognise and trust a person.

While I was reading the article my Norton Security came up with a notice warning me I had turned my Firewall turned off, subsequently all alerts were at risk so I have had to 'fix' it! Of course I didn't turn it off!

I got to see live, wild ravens this weekend! It was quite cool.