Happy Weekend ATS - Watch the skies and stay safe

a reply to: Encia22
Crow are fun to watch; I don’t frequently see them at my house though. I am waiting to see if the Painted Buntings are going to come back this year. Last year I had 2 different families coming to my feeder. I hope they do; they are so beautiful.



Years and years ago I found a baby Great Horned Owl had fallen onto my driveway. It was late evening and I almost ran over the cute little thing. I got a towel and picked it up and put in a cardboard box, then brought it in the house for the night. The next morning I found a lady that did rescues and drove it about 1 hour one way to her house. She was definitely a lover of birds; she had bird cages all over her house even covering the kitchen countertops. The little guy made a full recovery and she was able to release it.

originally posted by: Encia22
a reply to: cmdrkeenkid

Cheers, I must have been a crow in another life... I'm a sucker for shiny things, I can't resist picking up paperclips, screws, etc. whenever I find them.

Here's a rare albino crow:

That albino crow is just as beautiful as the black ones. Thanks for sharing =)

a reply to: SecretKnowledge

That sounds like a good idea. I love robins, especially the way they bob up and down.

My experience with them has been limited to one particular red-breasted little'un that kept following me around a large garden. it flew close, but never within touching distance. I think it was used to people feeding it, but not having anything to give it, it kept it's distance.

a reply to: Nothin

LOL at the starfish eating seagull... that sounds painful. I've seen pigeons take mouthfuls more than they can handle, but they usually regurgitate the obstructing food.

I don't know the Grey-Jay... looked it up - I want one!! I've lived in the US, Canada and around Europe and have never known about this species. Thanks for sharing!

As for the story, I've got some ideas, but I'll pass for now. I'm already participating with something else. Maybe I'll keep this skeleton idea for a rainy day. However, I don't mind if anyone picks up the idea and runs with it.

a reply to: Onlyyouknow

Thanks for the video! Another species I didn't know about.

The courting/mating ritual is a spectacle... brilliant!

I'm glad you saw and was able to save that little owl... it was especially kind of you to find the right person who could look after it.

I've saved quite a few swallows at work. They get trapped on my workplace's balconies and my colleagues call me to help. Swallows can't take off from the ground, they're designed to grip onto vertical surfaces and spend most of their lives in flight. I manage to pick them up and then launch them into the air. Before that, I check their wings are ok, otherwise, I'd be launching them to their deaths.

Beautiful puppy in your avatar, by the way.

a reply to: ZenTam

You're welcome!

I remember reading about white crows and a particular story that harks back to mythology...

Greek mythology: Apollo, the god of prophecy, sent a white raven to spy on his lover, Coronis. When the raven returned saying Coronis had been unfaithful, Apollos was so mad he scorched the raven, turning it black.

There are more stories and myths about crows here.

a reply to: Onlyyouknow

I remember an experience I had with a type of crow called a Cornacchia (carrion crow). In Italy we have many of them in cities. They are duo-tone black and grey and are just as smart and mischievous as normal crows.

One day, walking around my neighbourhood, I spotted a young cornacchia that didn't seem to be able to fly. I waited a while to see if its mum was around, but it seemed it was all alone. I approached it, expecting it to take flight. Instead, it started squawking at me incessantly. The only way to shut it up was to offer it my finger.

Just as I was thinking of taking it home and then on to a sanctuary, a lady came out of an apartment block. She said the crow's name was Shakespeare and that she had rescued it. The best part was when she told me that it can only fly downwards; so, from the her second-floor balcony, Shakespeare takes a nosedive to the ground, but can't fly back up.

What cracked me up was when she said that when that happens, she is forced to come down to collect Shakespeare, but he doesn't want to be picked up, instead, he hops into the elevator for a ride up.

Here are some pictures I shot that day:

a reply to: Encia22

That’s a great story. It’s a cute little fellow.
It reminded me of a chuldrens book my child loved called The Crow and The Pitcher, one of Aesop’s fables. I’m sure you know about it already.

a reply to: Encia22

Thats a great little thing that happened, brilliant.

The flying down only bird, hahahaa.

a reply to: Onlyyouknow

Thanks, I know the tale, but had forgotten about it. The incredible thing is that it's real... crows, ravens, etc. have been shown to actually be that ingenious. Not only with pebbles, but sticks, cars to crack nuts and even gravity to smash things.

a reply to: SecretKnowledge

I guess he was was trying to be economical.

Unfortunately, I never met the crow or the owner again, I hope he grew up strong and flight worthy... he was a feisty little thing and his beak sure was strong.

originally posted by: Encia22
a reply to: ZenTam

You're welcome!

I remember reading about white crows and a particular story that harks back to mythology...

Greek mythology: Apollo, the god of prophecy, sent a white raven to spy on his lover, Coronis. When the raven returned saying Coronis had been unfaithful, Apollos was so mad he scorched the raven, turning it black.

There are more stories and myths about crows here.

Awesome, thanks for sharing! =)

Hope you are having a splendid Saturday.
Don’t know if you will see this. I have seen 1 male painted bunting at my feeder for 4 days now-Yay! The little guy even made it through 2 pretty good thunderstorms.

a reply to: Onlyyouknow

Thank you, Onlyyouknow, I hope you’re having a Great Weekend, too.

That’s wonderful news, and I’m glad he survived those storms… these wonders of nature really do bring much joy.

This reminds me of a story my mother told me. When she was a child, growing up in a poor family in a small village, they kept just a few hens for eggs. They were free to roam wherever, in and out of the house and they were very much part of the family.

One day, a heavy hailstorm killed one of them; her name was Carletta. My grandmother, being the practical sort, decided to waste not, want not, and roasted her for dinner. When she was put in the centre of the table, no one could bring themselves to eat her. They all just sat there in tears.

Mother Nature can be cruel sometimes.