Crows calling at Bald Eagle to force it off its high perch and out of its territory in Florida. The crows bet that annoying calls and courage will trump size and power. Who will win this battle of nerves?
American Crow caw calls and extreme closeup of the features of these amazing birds. These are deep forest crows that live in a family unit. They are typically very difficult to capture on camera in the forest cover. Here they are checking out the remains of a corn feeder the Chipmunks have finished off - a lucky capture! A note on crows - they are extremely social and intelligent birds and are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, a federal act resulting from a formal treaty signed by the United States, Canada, and Mexico and they can not be indiscriminately killed. Individual states may require permits to control crows and may regulate the method of take. Federal guidelines permit states to establish hunting seasons for crows. During these seasons, crows may be hunted according to the regulations established in each state. Regulations or interpretation of depredation rules may vary among states, and state or local laws may prohibit certain control techniques such as shooting or trapping. Check with local wildlife officials if there is any doubt regarding legality of control methods.
A large flock of crows ushered in by the first cold spell of winter 2013 attracts the interest of a Bald Eagle as the Goodyear Blimp passes over the area - what are the odds of that happening in one day? Crows and Eagles generally don't get along as you can see in this video from last winter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0ybGVYkQps
Always a rare treat to see an eagle soaring over the yard, but to have the Goodyear Blimp within sight at the same time is way too random to fathom. American Crows are generally not migratory in the deep south, but they have unique seasonal behavior. They seem to form up into large flocks and move through the area and disperse into the vast interior range lands for the winter or congregate at landfills. I never see individual crows other than maybe one or two days a year in the cool season. They make a ruckus when they move through.
