Anything but Common: The Hidden Life of the American Crow

This isn't an answer to the above question, but I wonder why crows don't reuse their nests in upstate New York? I've had the privilege of getting to know my backyard crows (in Red Deer Alberta, Canada) for the last 15 years. I feed them and they sometimes leave "sparkly treasures" for me :) I noticed one of the crows is getting white feathers on it's left wing like JG in the study so I assume it is age related.

Use of peanuts and tree climbing. The big tags also.

I had no idea that crows live so long!

That the birds don't try and get the tags off.

It is wonderful to know that you can get to know birds as individuals, from when they were in an egg until their death. I would guess that there is sadness when a bird that you have known all their life dies. And also, thank you for telling us where in trees we might see a crow's nest!

It was interesting that the teams need to look for new nest every year, as American Crows do not re-use their nests. The wing tags seemed large, and I wonder if there was any change to flying patterns as a result? I wonder, using radio and tag tech, what did you learn  bout how far a crow will leave its territory...do some travel hundreds of miles away and stay there?

It was interesting to learn why you used the wing tags as well as the leg bands.  I also found it interesting to learn that they do not return to the same nest and that they nest so high up at the top of the trees.  This year I hear them frequently in the woods behind one of the neighbors, and it makes me wonder if the nest is up in one of the white pines.  Thank you for the fascinating information.

The big tags!  I didn't know anything about their nests.  I'll have to search some out in the field.

The size of the ID tags were  quite noticable.   I wonder if this affects behavior.

The tags seem to be a little large.

I had heard about the different tagging methods.  Seeing them and hearing about some details (e.g., age, individuality) added context.  Learning about the crow's nesting sites will/may help me to see more of them, as I hike around the area (and around the cemetery).

I didn't know where they tend to nest toward the tops of tall trees. That info will be a big help in finding their nests (I hope).

I'm surprised you don't use microchips to follow the birds

How difficult the nest is to find.  How many nestlings are in the clutch.

I was just reading that old school thought was that research animals should not be given names.  Tags are essentially names and obviously vital to your research.

That the tags and bands in many cases lasted throughout the life of the crow and let the team know how long lived these birds are.

Most interesting is the dedication of research throughout the life of the bird and the fact that it can possibly be a couple of decades! It's also interesting that the individuality of the birds can be learned.

The fact that the crows in the study are given 2 bands as well as a wing tag. If I saw a crow with a wing tag I would think that something was wrong with it, and that it had become entangled in something. Also that you have to draw blood to sex the birds.

The way you follow them for their entire lives was a surprise to me. Also how many tags they have.

The length of time that the researchers studied the individual birds and got to know them, even without their tags.

The wing tags and the radio wires on their backs. They look uncomfortable for the crows.  But i know the researchers care about their birds and so im sure it must not bother them too much. also i did not know that crows got white feathers when they got older. Even though there is probably a measureof academic detachment, it must be sad for the researchers when a crow disappears and never comes back. I would be sad after spending so much time with them

I did not realize that the birds wore multiple identifiers. I am sure getting good visuals on the nests is not an easy task. Would use of a drone be more feasible?

Lifespan - In the past, I'd believe it was a lot shorter.   Good to know.    Makes me happy they live longer.

I was most surprised to hear that individual crows are tracked for so many years! It must be heartbreaking for the researchers to lose a bird after spending so much time with it.