仙台 えいごの教室

　　

  They are highly intelligent, loving¹ parents and beautiful if you look carefully! Of course they’ll eat anything  — like our garbage² — so many people don’t like them.

 

  I have been feeding a family of crows for a couple of years now. I read an article³ about a young girl who was feeding crows and the crows began to bring her presents – shiny things like bolts, bottle caps and keys!

 

  The crows, whose territory includes my house, are Carrion Crows. I only put food down in front of my house when the crow are watching. I never put food out if the crows are not there, otherwise⁴ it might attract⁵ many unwanted visitors.

 

  It took them a while to get used to⁶ me but gradually started to understand that I was a food source⁷ – and a friend! I also always use the same sound when offering food. I always call, ‘Hey crow, hey crow’ many times.

   

  After a while I changed the way I was feeding them. I reward⁸ them only if they come close. Now they get pretty close but unfortunately won’t land on my shoulder yet…

 

  Watching the crows for these 2 years has been really interesting! There are 3 in this family, the mom, the dad and the child that was born 2 years ago. (Crow kids stay with their parents for a long time, and even help the parents raise new kids!)

 

  Recently it’s only the male who comes to me. When he sees me, he dives down⁹ about 50 meters to me. When my wife is outside the door, he somtimes shows up asking for a treat¹⁰. The juvenile¹¹ is out playing with his friends (that’s the baby in the first picture with the white in the wings!), and of course this is the nesting season so the female is on the nest.

 

  I’m looking forward to meeting some new family members… and I’m still waiting for shiny presents!