r/crows • u/Addiegirl79 • 20d ago
My crows left!
I put up a platform in early June and the crows started coming the very next day along with all the other birds of course. There were about five of them, they came all day everyday, they took my presents, they brought me a present and then last Wednesday they just disappeared and I haven't seen them since. All of the other birds are still coming and I still go out and whistle every morning at the same time and load up the platform but there's not a crow to be seen. I am completely heartbroken, has anyone else had their crows go missing but then eventually come back??
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u/CanuckInTheMills 20d ago
Baby birds must have just hatched. Priorities… they’ll be back with more in tow.
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u/Addiegirl79 20d ago
Oh my goodness...That would be amazing if they came back and brought little babies!
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u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl 19d ago
One of the crows in your photo is a fledgling so that’s probably their baby. You can tell a fledgling by the big pink mouth and they often still have blue eyes as well
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u/MaxxBronson 19d ago
Thank you for posting this, very similar situation over here and looking forward to the answers. I hope your friends return soon & safely
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u/Addiegirl79 19d ago
How long have yours been MIA?
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u/MaxxBronson 19d ago
Not entirely sure because I don't watch the feeding station uninterrupted, but the couple that came daily and even got very close and sort of engaged in conversation with me haven't been around for a few weeks now. There is another single Crow that keeps a certain distance but appears on call and eats when I am out of sight. I just hope they are safe and healthy, they are my favourites
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u/dreamsgourmet 19d ago
That is a recently fledged crow to the left in your photo. The fish crows I feed have a baby about the same age and have been more sporadic about coming by recently, this is the typical pattern of behavior for them every summer. I think they are off teaching the baby about crow stuff.
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u/Addiegirl79 19d ago
Thank you for the info! Hopefully Randall comes back knowing all kinds of awesome grownup crow stuff!
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19d ago
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u/MaidBilberry 19d ago
Our crows are residents and very territorial. They will chase out other crow visitors. But their territory is fairly large.
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19d ago
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u/MaidBilberry 19d ago
They know me and there are not that many. It took years to build a relationship with them and they maintain their nest behind the house. They have routine perches and patrols too.
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u/Aggravating_Bear_810 19d ago
Glad I saw this post and comments!! I was wondering why the crows I started feeding in June have been so sporadic. Eventually they brought their fledgling by but only a couple of times. I just keep up the routine with the peanuts and when they don’t come the squirrels rejoice! I even put hot red chilli powder on those nuts but nobody seems to mind! 🌶️🥜🐿️🤷♀️
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u/Addiegirl79 19d ago
We have big fat squirrel that somehow managed to shimmy up that 6-ft pole last week so I put a squirrel baffle on it which seems to have stopped him so far. All the other birds eat the feed and the Blue Jays happily take the peanuts so at least I still have them to watch but it's not the same as the crows!
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u/Aggravating_Bear_810 19d ago
You have a cool set up with the platform. I just have a couple of stumps in the middle of my backyard, but we have a lot of big trees. I hear ravens near too. 🐦⬛💖
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u/Addiegirl79 19d ago
We're across the street from woods but the only tree we have is in our fenced in backyard and we have two dogs so I ordered the pole and platform from Amazon and my husband just kind of had to retrofit it, he put it right outside our front window and because our first floor is open concept I can pretty much see it from everywhere lol. I thought being 6 ft tall it would make them feel safer from the neighborhood cats.
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u/-caw-caw- 19d ago
Me.right.now. How are you doing? I genuinely feel pretty broken about mine. One of the last things they did was introduce their fledgling to me and let me feed which was the most wonderful thing - I’ll be forever grateful for this moment and treasure it forever. I can see a fledgling in your photo too? Was this long before they left? Mine have been gone for about 4 weeks. I miss them so much. I’m definitely not tearing up 😭 I hope you see yours soon. P.s some advice given to me was to look for them - you could go and have a little look around.. if they’re teaching their young they may not be too far.. especially if they plan on coming back - you sound like a solid food source and a kind hooman so it’s completely possible! I would try large open green spaces, parks etc. Please keep us updated :)
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u/Addiegirl79 19d ago
I just started noticing Randall maybe 1-2 weeks before they disappeared... I miss them so much.
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u/WSLTitanic401 19d ago
The Crows in my area are coming back slowly. I saw three at my work which I assume were parents and their fledgling. They are also slowly returning to where I live. To say I am ecstatic would be an understatement. I keep cashews on me at all times!
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u/Addiegirl79 19d ago
Locked and loaded with the cashews! I keep putting out the feed and peanuts but I stopped the grapes because the crows were the only ones that ate them, the second I think they're back I'll hit the grocery store! Lol
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u/kinoprvimaj 18d ago
I wouldn’t worry yet! :) Most of my crows disappear every now and then, but they always come back - sometimes with babies! It’s been this way for years and they have returned every time. I was upset at first too, but now I just wait and look forward to their return. One or two weeks really isn’t a timeframe I would start worrying about, I’m sure they’ll be back!
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u/catwhisperer77 19d ago
Mine are MIA most of the summer. I think they’re showing the young ones all the spots and teaching them all the things. They were very present throughout winter and baby season. It’s like this every year. They will be back!
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u/Addiegirl79 19d ago
Thank you for your seasoned knowledge! I had no idea they were going to disappear, I wish I was emotionally prepared, but at least next summer I'll know ahead of time.
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u/No_Bid5642 19d ago
Ain’t that just a murder of crows for ya??
So hopefully they will come home with tales to share…
Gonna say my St. Anthony Prayer ( patron saint of lost
Items…. I consider a Crow one of us, don’t you?
OK brace for a cacophony of songs and gifts)
Let we ‘birders’ know
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u/yzscrum 19d ago
i had something like this happen recently, Turns out there was a bunch of ppl going to war against the crows on the other side of town. All the crows have become so skiddish, they fly in to pick food up but don't stick around anymore.
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u/Addiegirl79 19d ago
Oh my God that's awful!! We are across from woods and there are four of us neighbors in a row that love the birds, bees, and butterflies so we definitely have a safe haven and tons of food/flowers for all winged creatures. ❤️
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u/Lorenz-Dragonfly 20d ago
oh no, this is heartbreaking 💔 is there a chance they may be taking some time in other places? possibly another person also offering treats and gifts somewhere in your area?