One crow discovered my seed dish, and after several days more began to show up. So far, I haven't seen more than five at a time. They may all be one family. Today a young one was there, begging to be fed, its caw sounding more like a honk. I've also heard crows make a surprising noise like a sort of clink, very un-caw-like.

I boiled eggs and put out peanuts everyday for months for a crow family living in the forest behind my house. not sure if they were the same family I did this for last year (?). they would watch my bedroom window and when I opened the blinds in the morning they would start calling to each other and maybe to me too! there was always throughout everyday one that was 'the sentinel' and sometimes he would come to get food or sometimes he and what I think was the father - much larger. I named the dad Carlos. So the two of them would come morning & afternoon for food. After several weeks/months one day there were 3 and I assumed this was the mother. the following week four came - one was the new baby and begging for food. They stayed in my small fenced in yard for several minutes looking at me and cawing. that was the last I saw them. I liked to think they brought the new bird to see me before they headed somewhere else and it was as though they came to say goodbye! I was so excited to see the new bird but I miss them!

1.  Family of three feeding on lawn, two of which were walking side by side for the several minutes on the grass much like a human couple would.

2.  The crows interact closely as a family unit whereas other birds as mating couples.

3.  Create and maintain diverse eco-landscapes on own's homestead.  Eliminate areas of standing water which is not a problem where I live on the mountain where rain percolates very quickly into the ground.

My favorite thing that the family in my yard does is when they bring the fledglings into my yard for food. I love seeing the young crows, and I love watching them loudly beg their parents for peanuts. I also like it when the fledglings hang around in my yard. Two years ago there were two that were especially curious and would watch me whenever I was in the yard. They were talkative and so funny. I loved having them around.  Sometimes the fledglings resist opening the peanuts by themselves and look like they get frustrated and annoyed; they keep up that loud aaaaa aaaaa aaaaa call until the parents or siblings open a shell for them and feed them.

Honestly, the west Nile business terrifies me. There was such a scare about it a few years ago here (in New Orleans). It’s heartbreaking, and I’m sorry for anyone who was observing birds who died from it.

Wear bug spray - West Nile is no joke!

To help slow the spread of West Nile Virus, eliminate mosquito breeding habitats; containers left outside neglected that collect water.  I don't own a pond but I think there are things that can be added to the water to discourage mosquito breeding, don't know how safe these things are.  Also creating a dragonfly habitat, dragonflies eat mosquitoes like I go through popcorn!

Re #2 - Crows make so many different sounds!

I "think" (since I don't have the ability to tag) that I have had a pair who had two babies who are currently regular visitors. There was a new baby this year. I remember when the two babies were young and hung out in the back yard. You could see their cute young bird head shapes and watch their their games. One would carry sticks around in a way that made me think that she was "playing house."

The chickadees and oak titmice that come bring their babies, looking sleek and plump while the parents look bedraggled, but they became a pair again soon after.

When I put out food, the new kids often come first. They will pick up the food and wait for the parents. When they show up the parent takes it.  The kid the goes into the feed me posture and call, then the parent feeds back to them.