For Part 1, please click here: crows-with-bits-of-raven-and-cat-part-1
Raven in Ireland’s Killarney Forest:
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Raven of Ireland @ Val Lee
Ravens love country life and most Crows love city life. The Raven owns a sophisticated look; the Crow cannot say the same of itself.
There are many differences between Crows and Ravens though they are similar as well. They both wear a shiny set of wings of jet black. We learn from Song of Solomon 5:10-11, that King Solomon had jet black, shiny hair that resembled a Crow or Raven, as disclosed by his bride: “My beloved is all radiant and ruddy, distinguished among ten thousand. His head is the finest gold; his locks are wavy, black as a Raven.”
(Raven or Crow can be used interchangeably in Scripture. The Hebrew word used for “Raven” is “oreb” which means “black.” Where the word is translated “Raven” it also could be translated “Crow.”) Psalm chapter 147, verse 9, declares, that the LORD provides the animals with food, “and to the young Ravens which cry.”
When it comes to test scores, both the Crow and Raven end up on the honor roll.
Crows and Ravens have at least 25 vocalizations; though the speech of Crows and
Ravens display differences.
Crows are mainly known to say, “Caw, Caw, Caw” in a harsh, irritating voice.
Ravens at times will talk in a low croaking sound.
Raven © Val J. Lee
Ravens will also make a sound similar to a hiccup, and will implement purring rhythmic noises. They can pick up on human words and speak them quite well.
Crows can learn a bit of human speech, but they are not nearly as impressive as the Ravens who might bid your pardon.
Video by Rapture Horizon Rehab and Education Center:
Ravens are just as intelligent as Crows in testing. They are God’s “brainy birds.”
One species of Crow, the “Wild Hooded” of Israel, has learned to use crumbs for bait-fishing.
It is debatable, as to whether Crows and Ravens actually own a language. Birding linguistic experts know their dialect is complex, being classified as uninterpretable.
What makes black wing talk difficult to decode is the fact God equipped these aves to hear low sound frequencies (that man cannot hear). This interplays into their vocabulary, which complicates the scientific study of their bird chatter.
They do own quite the range of speech and communicate with one another quite effectively. Their brains may be small, but not their field of intelligence.
All species of birds have some type of language skill. Even humans can interpret their lingo for being upset.
A group of Crows might be called, “a murder,” because a Crow clique will sometimes kill a dying Crow.
Crows are susceptible to the West Nile Virus as are Magpies. The death of Crows can be a scary thing, being it can indicate the West Nile Virus is approaching. Crows are observed and used as early indicators of flavivirus. Crows are apt to perish within one week of acquiring the disease, with only a few surviving the exposure. Nile Virus has brought about the deaths of 45% of American Crows since 1999. Strangely, they are still listed as “Least Concern Species” by the “International Union for Conservation of Nature.”
West Nile also depleted the population of American Magpies to a significant degree. We certainly noticed this in Idaho.
Crows are omnivorous, allowing an extensively, diverse diet. They will eat almost anything, including fruits, nuts, mollusks, earthworms, seeds, frogs, fish, eggs, nestlings, mice, carrion, and on and on. They do not have picky tastebuds and will even rummage through trash.
My video of the Eiffel Tower area in Paris, France, with European Crows trying to outsmart a rubbish bin:
The country tradition of placing scarecrows in farm fields resulted from the Crow’s messy, behavior patterns—or behavioral problems. Their foraging destroyed acres of crops. Though Crows will eat devouring crop insects, they will also pull up the planted seed, supplanting the farmer. They know what humans do on their behalf. Their illegal trespassing, devouring traits, places them on hit lists. Any good attributes such as intelligence means nothing to farmers. Actually, their intelligence is hated; they are too smart for their own good. They observe, then take advantage of a day’s hard work. They know how to cunningly destroy a farmer’s entire plantings so they can obtain the best fruits of labor. They can roost in numbers of 200,000 to 300,000, providing an idea of what farmers have to deal with.
In America it is legal to hunt Crows in all states, usually from August through November. Reasonable laws allow the continual hunt, if they are causing a nuisance or health hazard. There is no Crow bagging limit during the “Crow hunting season,” unlike the fishing season. No manner how many are hunted and killed, God never allows their numbers to be endangered. They can certainly be viewed as part of God’s curse upon the earth.
Some Crow sportsmen do eat Crow and state their dark meat tastes like duck with no fat.
Crow Recipe from Internet “Recipes” Page:
16 pieces of crow breast meat (no bones) (8 crows)
16 pieces of green pepper
16 cherry tomatoes
8 button mushrooms
8 ears of sweet corn
1 1/2 cups of Teriyaki sauce
1/2 cup melted butter
8 kabob skewers
Preparation:
Cut each piece of crow in half and place in a covered bowl with the Teriyaki sauce over night. Clean and cut each ear of corn into 3 pieces. Cook in boiling salt water for 10 minutes. Alternately put corn (3 pieces), green peppers (3 pieces) and cherry tomatoes (3) along with 4 pieces of Crow meat on each skewer. Use 1 mushroom to top each skewer. Brush with melted butter and place on preheated grill for about 4 minutes. Flip, butter again and place back on grill for another 4 minutes. Repeat one last time for a total of 12 minutes or until they appear done.
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Crows were classified as an unclean bird in the Old Testament, thus they could not to be consumed.
Female Crows mate at age three and males at age five. The timing of courting and mating varies with location, and weather temperaments. Generally Crows are among the first aves to commence the nesting process. This usually occurs in late winter.
Video of male attempting to court a female; however, no formal engagement occurred. The male did not appear too disappointed. By VA Bird Watcher:
Females must be most picky, being this is a lifetime commitment. Crows are monogamous. God created most prey birds to be life loyal.
Nests are average in appearance, though rather large. Mother Crow lays three to seven eggs, sometimes in one day; or two to three days may lapse between laying. They are solely incubated by her. Gestation is about 18 days. Pigment patterns of the eggs can vary, even within a single clutch. They might appear with bluish-green tints to pale olive. They are quite artistic, often topped with brown spotting or irregular brown patterns. Their appearance can vary in numerous ways, though their size is stable, just over an inch in length.
Crow hatchlings are small, blind, helpless, and covered with a bit of down. Mother Crow continually broods her wee ones for approximately two weeks, upon which she can take some well deserved breaks.
The papa has his part too. He alone or with a couple of helper crows (usually their older young) will collect food and carry it to the nest. God graciously designed them with special storage pouches in their throats called “sublingual pouches.” These helpful depositories assist the Crow family nurses so they may feed the newborns directly or pass the food to Mom’s mouth that she might feed them.
Thirty to forty days after hatching, the nestlings leave their perched home successfully. The Crow family, Mom, Dad and their mature young, will look after the novice flyers and will even continue to feed them up to four months.
Crow families are synchronized. They know how to move together with one intention of threatening predators. They will also attack an outsider Crow who attempts to move within their property boundary lines.
Average lifespan of Crows is 20 years. Ornithology tagging records reveal one wild Crow lived to be 30 years of age.
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During nesting season, Crows can be aggressive toward humans, as well as animal predators. If they come down toward you, wave your arms above you in a forceful and deliberate manner; this should shoo them away.
News Clip from Time Magazine:
(Condensed and edited)
Fear the Birds!
The Everett, Washington, Police Department’s North Precinct parking lot may be the least safe place in Everett, Washington.
Crows have created a danger zone for officers who walk between their cruisers and the office, dive-bombing officers … swooping and “zinging” them.
(Criminal Crows have no respect for law enforcers)
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A few years ago, I witnessed Crows diving at a man who appeared to be of the shady sort! He was left a frightened soul after being singled out by them as a foe. He was not injured. I do not believe they actually hit him; they simply were relentless in plunging at him.
Of course, many species of birds attack humans during breeding season, if they feel threatened.
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Some Crows will migrate, but usually not a significant distance. I saw a flock of Crows flying south the other day. However, since this is mid-February, you would think they would be flying north. Maybe they were just out for a spin.
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More Scriptures references regarding this species:
Elijah was miraculously supplied with bread and meat by Ravens or Crows when God warned him to flee to the Brook Cherith.
Elijah stood against the idol or statue worship practiced in his own land of Israel. This wicked, false homage was politically enacted by King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. This notorious couple also outlawed the Jews worshipping Holy God, which provoked them to plan Elijah’s demise; knowing he would not comply. They did not care that Elijah had destroyed the voice of many of their false prophets through the judgment of death. They foolishly held no fear of the LORD. (1 Kings chapters 17 and 18)
Eventually, Elijah was miraculously charioted to heaven in fiery glory. (2 Kings chapter 2)
In the New Testament (penned in the Greek language) we find the word “korax” used by Jesus Christ in Luke 12:22-24. This is the Greek word for “Raven” and can be interchanged with “Crow,” though it is mostly associated with the “Raven.” In these verses the LORD Jesus Christ commanded His followers, not to be anxious about their lives. They were not to be concerned with food or apparel. Their lives were more important than daily bread, and their body more important than clothing. He told them to consider the Ravens (or possibly Crows, or both), being they neither plant crops nor harvest. Therefore, they have no need for storehouses or barns. God miraculously provides their needed sustenance. Christ let the people know their value greatly exceeded bird-worth, so there was no need to worry about daily necessities. (Luke 12:22-24)
Jesus Christ loves and cares about you far more than Crows or Ravens! To learn of His personal concern for you, please click here: Letter to the Bird Enthusiast!
*Info gratefully gathered through various websites.
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Cassidy cat tale stories appear at my website, please click here: vallee
Cat morsels: There are a few species of wild cat (not of a breed) that can appear like a domestic feline to a degree. Jesus Christ created them for a unique purpose on this globe. One particular wild cat that intrigues me is the “Fishing Cat” of Asia that weights between 11 to 35 pounds. It implements fishhook type claws for its fishing outings, and is equipped with special, small close-able ears for water diving and underwater hunts. Their flat, short tails act like a boat rudder so they can move speedily through streams. They can be tamed; however you never want to come close to a wild Fishing Cat, as it can kill leopards.
About video:
The smallest wild cat (not domestic or of a breed) is the Sand Cat of the Middle East, which appears to be a beautiful kitten. Unfortunately, it does not possess a tamable nature:
Please click here: letter-to-bird-enthusiast
Birds Through Val Lee's Looking Glass 