Fred looking slightly less innocent as he ambushes the dog. This is a regular occurrence, the most amazing aspect being that Geordie (a nervous dog by nature) seems to not mind. #crows

#PetalsandPerches

Close up photo of a crow (specifically, Fearless Fred) perched in a crab apple tree amidst pale pink apple blossoms.

#BirdoftheDay is Fred the crow with apple blossom. He looks so innocent here … #crows

Close up of a crow showing the nictitating membrane covering their eye momentary. The veins in the membrane look like winter tree branches.

A close up of Bill, showing off his newly trimmed beak … and the beautiful pattern of veins in the nictitating membrane momentarily covering his eye.
I always think that the vein patterns you see in them look like a beautiful forest of bare tree branches — worlds within worlds. 🖤 #crows

Bill’s beak is the subject of this week’s Urban Nature Enthusiast blog post. He suffers from AKD, and his beak (although handsome) was getting overly long. Bill somehow solved his own problem. #crows

urbannature.blog/2026/04/08/b...

Young crow hanging upside down from a tree branch, hanging on with one foot.

Young Lou, just hanging around while Mom and Dad (Mavis and Marvin) are occupied with nesting business. He’s having fun, while also guarding the territorial boundary with crow neighbours Norman and Nancy.
#crow

I do feel very lucky to have known him for so long. He and Mavis have gone through a lot in those years — they’re the first birds in my City Crow Stories book. 😊🖤

Lou has lots of interests to keep himself occupied, but this was the first time he landed on a branch beside me and seemed to be striking up a conversation.

Just a few words from young Lou. His parents, Marvin and Mavis, have been busy with nesting business for the past couple of weeks, leaving Lou with lots of time to find his own entertainment.
#crow

Marvin the crow, magnificent in his floofy feathers , standing on a fence and looking very fierce.

Magnificent Marvin, sublime in his floofiness.
I’ve known Marv, and his mate, Mavis for about nine years now and both are doing well and embarking on yet another nesting season with distracted help from Lou, their fledgling from last year.
#crow

Wow — you’re way ahead of us!

It’s that time of year!

INTENSELY WET CROW - Fine Art Crow Photography Print Fine Art portrait of a wet crow with a philosophical attitude. Photographic fine art print by June Hunter. Signed by the artist.

It is available as a print 😊 … www.junehunter.com/products/int...

INTENSELY WET CROW - Fine Art Crow Photography Print Fine Art portrait of a wet crow with a philosophical attitude. Photographic fine art print by June Hunter. Signed by the artist.

It is available as a print 😊 … www.junehunter.com/products/int...

Extreme close up of a crow in rain, showcasing wet feathers, one judgemental eye and beak in the foreground.

Intensely wet #crow

Fred and Florence crows hustle to beat the recycling truck to that enticing take-out container. #crows

Small Crow Stories — Little Lou It’s been a while since my last Crow News update. Every morning I get up, make coffee and sit with the cat while I check the latest world news on my phone. Next, I get dressed and take the do…

Well, it’s been almost a year since I last posted here, so here is some long overdue crow news. #crows

He also seems to like to “boing” when it’s pouring with rain, adding an extra layer of recording challenge!

He also seems to make his special sound partly in response to loud human-made sounds, so he almost always “boings” just as cars go by, lawnmowers start up etc — so not ideal for taping. But then my taping him is neither here no there for Bongo, so we take what we can get … 🤪

Bongo’s first “boings” of the season are the true harbinger of spring.
He’s been at it since early March, but it’s unpredictable and hard to catch on video.
#crows #birds 🪶

Agnes was the smallest but most furious of the Furies.
#birds #bushtit 🪶

It is real 😊

Zooming in to see Geordie and I both reflected in this raven’s all-seeing eye.
#ravens 🪶

Elbows Up!
#crows 🪶🇨🇦

At this time she will be 100% reliant on her mate to bring her food. The early season begging you may start hearing soon is the mother bird’s way of reminding Dad of his coming role. 
#crows 🪶

It all makes perfect sense if you think like a corvid.
Corvid couples share almost all the nesting season tasks, except for incubating the eggs.
Only the female can do this (she develops a special brood patch for the purpose) so she will have to sit in the nest for 2-3 weeks, once eggs are laid.

One bird will be bowing down, flapping wings and presenting a wide open beak, just like a baby.
But it’s WAY too early for fledglings. The crows and ravens haven’t even built nests yet!
So what’s going on?

Spring … and corvid romance are in the air.
Around this time of year, you may start to hear noises from your local crows and ravens that sound just like fledglings begging to be fed by their parents.
What’s going on … read on in comments.

I’m excited to announce that I’ll be giving a brief talk about the joys of crow watching as part of the annual Still Moon Arts Society Crow Roost Bike Ride.
The event is TODAY (Friday, March 7) from 5:30 to 7:30pm
To book a spot on the bike ride: stillmoonarts.ca/events-calen...
#crows 🪶

Todays blog post: The Plumicorn Puzzle.

urbannature.blog/2025/03/05/t...