Finding a crows nest.

[Anonymous Poster]

I have lived in the country all of my life ...I have never seen a crows nest that I am aware of.I have seen lots of squirrels nest/a hawks nest/I have come across a nest or 2 of flying squirrels.I even found a turkey buzzard and its egg under a rock out cropping(they lay and incubate there eggs on the soil).I have never discovered a crows nest with its young..Don't they incubate there eggs about this time of year? I would like to have a pet crow,they are a very smart bird.Anyone here ever raised or found one in the wild?

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

Never thought about it...I have lived in the country most of my life and I have never seen a crow's nest... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[beenthere]

Two years ago, I had one not very far from my house, in the woods. There was no mistake as the crows (adult) were collectively flying around it and the young were very noisy continually calling for help. A horrible sound and relentless when the young are calling. The nest was at the very top of an oak tree, and short of dropping the tree, I expect would have been very hard to get them out alive.

 

[Egon]

A crows nest is quite large 12-16 inches in diameter and 6-10 inches deep depending on the tree branches it is built on. The main construction is of large twigs with a grass- feather nesting bowl in the center.

To find one look for crows in the spring and then watch to which clump of trees they seem to hang around and investigate. They build almost anywhere from willow trees to solitary tree or small group of trees. Seldom do they build in heavy wooded areas unless it is near the edge.

The eggs are about 1 1/2 inches long or a little less, usually four but sometimes five and are a blue green with irregular black specks on them. When getting near a nest with eggs the adults will stay quiet untill you start to climb the tree. When the young are hatched they are terribly noisy and lead you right to them.

When I was a kid [ just lower chronological age than now ] the county paid five cents for a pair of crow or magpie legs. One year I was third for the number turned in and other years was always about fourth or fifth. This wasn't bad considering the top few were usually comprised of two or three kids working under one name.

Now the relization of my errors has finally sunk in and will never shoot another crow or magpie.

I beleive hawks will nest in an old crow nest if it is situated high up in a taller tree. Crows will build a new nest every year. Hawks will reuse a nest for years.

Egon

 

[RichZ]

Egon gave a great desciption of a crow's nest. But, it isn't legal to make crows a pet. They are considered migratory native birds, and are protected, and not allowed to be kept in captivity.

I am a wildlife rehabilatator, and I have taken care of many injured and pesticide poisoned crows. I have kept crows as long as a year to recover from wing injuries. I have also had about 1/2 dozen crows that never were able to regain the ability to fly, and kept them in a special aviary that I used to have for that purpose.

The crow family includes crows, ravens, magpies and jays. They are the most intelligent group of birds, with intelligence equivalent to primates. They are one of the few birds that have been observed using tools. They all have very complicated social groups, and all have a form of language,based on sounds and gestures. Crows live in huge flocks that break down into smaller groups during the day for feeding. The smallest groups are usually groups of five, with 4 usually feeding and one standing watch for predators. If an area contains more predators, you may see three feeding and two standing watch.

Crows and jays also take care of injued and aged members of their groups. They have been observed feeding other individuals that cannot feed themselves due to advance age or catastophic injury. Crows are also very long lived, with an average lifespan of over 60 years. Crows and jays are extremely intelligent and fascinating creatures.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Rich,
Crows are not a protected species around here(WVa),a matter of fact there is a open continous hunting season on them here in WVa season allowed on them.
West Virginia Hunting and trapping regulations July 2002 to July 2003
Here is what it states:
Skunk,opossum,woodchuck,weasel,coyote,English Sparrow,European Starling and CROW,
Continous open season.Daily bag limit 0
Possesion limit 0
Season limit 0
The only thing I would need is a permit,which a lady I know told me, who is a fish/wildlife game biologist (federal)
And her husband works for the state department of natural resources.
Crows do not migrate from here they are here 365 days a year.

 

[RichZ]

Fred, actually crows don't migrate anyplace, but their federal classification is that of a migratory bird. I know at one point there was a federal prohibition against keeping them as pets. I haven't kept up on that stuff, so maybe it no longer exists.

I did several graduate research projects on crows and jays, and as I said, I have had quite a bit of experience with them in captivity.

Just bear in mind how long lived they are. Having one in captivity is more than a lifelong committment, because it would be almost impossible to successfully release a crow that had been raised as a pet, into the wild. So, you or your descendents would be in charge of an extremely intelligent and mischievious creature. And let me tell you that crows are capable of all kinds of mischief. With the combination of extreme intelligence, flight and the extreme dexterity of their beaks, they would not be an easy pet to keep. Believe it or not they have great curiosity in all things that are shiny and things that make interesting sounds. They love to steal and hide shiney objects (one once stole and hid my car keys), and if they can't lift it, they try to take it apart. You would not believe what they are capable of dismantling. One of my flightless captive crows, could take apart small bells, and then put them together again. They could easily wreck havoc in a house. They're also too large and intelligent to be kept in cages. They're social, and need constant contact with their family, which would be you. You have no idea how loud a crow is inside a house.

So...I would strongly reccommend against a pet crow!!! It wouldn't be fair to you or the crow!!! They are not well suited to captivity.

 

[Egon]

" actually crows don't migrate anyplace"

Sorry fellows, Crows do migrate to and from the frozen north.

Egon

 

[RichZ]

Sorry, Egon, I wasn't thinking of Canada. They don't migrate in the lower 48 of the USA. It's true in Canada they do.

 

[Richard]

The nest was at the very top of an oak tree, and short of dropping the tree, I expect would have been very hard to get them out alive

Am I the only one that sees ironic humor in this comment?

Would not dropping the tree with them (the young ones) in it, likely be injurous to their health?

(not stoking a fire, I just thought it was humerous)