This bird was in his own little world.
1/1250, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Two days ago Farmington Bay WMA was crawling with crows which is pretty typical for this time of year. Many hundreds of them were going through their morning social rituals before flying off to their feeding grounds, presumably at the Bountiful dump. Most of them wouldn’t allow a close approach as they crowed and jabbered and jawed amongst themselves before eventually flying off.
But this guy was in his own little world as ‘he’ interacted only with himself with none of the other crows nearby. And he didn’t seem to care that he was unusually close to my pickup, much closer than any of the rest of them. So close I couldn’t fit all of him in the frame.
1/1000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
He was making cute but weird chortling sounds that I’d never heard from a crow before and he barely needed to open his bill to make them. The sounds were so soft I wouldn’t have been able to hear them if I’d been any further away.
It seemed to me that he was making those sounds only for himself as I’m pretty sure none of the other crows could hear him, especially considering the racket they were making and how far away they were..
1/1000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
His utilitarian bill has really been through the ringer with scrapes and scratches on both mandibles. This might be the best look I’ve ever had at the bill of a crow.
Crows typically don’t get a lot of attention from bird photographers but they have feathers so like most any other bird they’re a magnet for my lens. Besides, I like the mix of ice, snow and water in the background and the bits of snow on his upper back.
Ron
The detail of the ring around his eye ( membrane That closes I assume) is amazing. Looks like little sparkly crystals
Huh, I’m feeling just a wee bit dissed … you didn’t like my earlier stereotype, perhaps? 🤔
Oops, sorry Chris. My not responding to your comment had nothing to do with stereotypes. I somehow just missed seeing seeing it until you made this one. I try to be careful to make sure that doesn’t happen but on rare occasions it does. It happens easier than you might think.
I would never, ever diss you intentionally, that’s for sure.
🙃
I love crows and it’s so cool to see a detailed shot of them. There’s so much texture I never noticed in the feathers and beak.
Glad you enjoyed them, HC.
Incredible “crowtographs,” Ron! Extra credit for capturing so much feather detail on a photon sink black bird. 🙂 I also noticed the few grains of snow on his shoulders, which seem to add to the whole “deep in thought” narrative.
Thanks, Marty. It was a clear, sunny morning but I think he got that snow on his back from brushing against a nearby clump of grass.
Wonderful portraits!! I personally love crows and will always stop to take a picture photo, though none as good as these yet!
Thank you, Joanne.
S/he was laughing about how the others were missing the best treats because they were cowards about humans. 😀
😁
Wonderful images. Growing up in Centerville we did not have crows or ravens, they started showing up in the late 1980’s. Bountiful dump and the nearby pond have huge flocks now. While trying to catch an injured bird a month ago at Bountiful Pond, I watched the crows pick at ice and eat it. It was very cold so no nearby open water except the steep slick sided cement canal that feeds Bountiful Pond. I assume the birds were eating the ice for water content. I really despise Bountiful Pond and the cement canal. I wish Davis County would improve and make the area more natural. The water that flows into the pond is from storm drain run off and a few local creeks. The oil, garbage, grass cuttings and such that flow into the pond are horrible. Plus it is right next to the dump!
April, I’ve only been to Bountiful Pond a couple of times. I avoid it, in part for the reason you mention.
Cute guy! Although I know “he” could well be a “she,” somehow I always think of crows as boys—something about behaviors, I guess (also a stereotype, I know.) I love these close-ups, you get a real sense of the bird inside all those black feathers.
Once again, Chris – apologies for not seeing this comment until very late!
You are most definitely forgiven (and now I’m 🙈 for even mentioning it!). I recognize you’ve got a LOT to keep up with here!
Beautiful portraits of a beautiful and often overlooked bird. Thanks for sharing these, Ron.
Thank you, Sheila.
When ever I think about crows for any length of time I am reminded of the University of Washington experiment on facial recognition. You’ve probably shared this before, but just in case here is the link: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/uw-professor-learns-crows-dont-forget-a-face/.
Thanks for the link, David. I’ve seen it before but I don’t think I’ve shared it.
You have a way with photography and writing. Together you have found your own poetry.
Very much appreciated, Michael.
That 2nd portrait was heartstoppingly beautiful 😍 and the others were very close behind.
But being in his own world? If you’re waxing poetic to pick up on the mood generated by that shot, perhaps. But … realistically, you do know that crows own the world, yes? 🙃🙄🙃
Well said, GP! They do indeed. Heh.
Granny Pat, I may have been waxing poetic but I think that’s what he was really doing, on some level at least.
Love that last one Ron. I think if he or she were to pick a portrait photo to keep it would be this one. You are right about photographers ignoring. Same thing here with our Ravens. I belong to a Backyard Birders group on NextDoor and no one ever posts a photo of a Raven. Photographers have even posted photos of a Coot, but never a Raven. Edgar Allen Poe would be disappointed.
Everett, the Poe part of your comment made me smile.
Nice! His beak does seem to indicate a LOT of use. 🙂 We’re getting more of them in the area in recent years including an occasional one in the yard. They are noisy for sure! Glad he cooperated……..
Judy, crows are becoming more common around here too. When I first started photographing birds I didn’t see nearly so many of them.
In shot #1, brother crow seems to be peeking at you from the corner of his
eye……a feature of your extreme closeups that are a revelation to me are
the small, almost bead-like muscles (?) that surround the eyes– do they
collectively constitute “eyelids” ?
I think what you are probably seeing are the base of the tufts of short feathers surrounding the eye of many birds.
Kris, I think Dan is right.
G-morning Ron, “And he didn’t seem to care that he was unusually close to my pickup” brought a smile to my sleepy morning face. I suspect it was a beggar bird that has acclimated to vehicles and its occupants for a free handout. I’ve noted many of “his” type in Interstate rest areas and fast food places, mostly various Finches and a variety of black bird types that, some have learned to sing for a treat. I experienced a Coyote in California quite a few years back at a Truck / rest stop parking area in the darkness of evening that wandered amongst the parked Tractors. If it noted movement in the Tractor cab, it would sometimes sit outside the Driver’s side door looking for a treat–which I admittingly pitched. It was an interesting learned behavior as it only parked itself at the left side Drivers Door.
Could be, Donald. Personally I think he was just having a few “into himself moments” so he allowed me to get closer than he usually was.
When I rode my horse in a 3,000 acre private forest for several yrs in Texas, the crows were our constant chatty companions! I love ’em! I’d crow-speak back to them, and we’d get a good conversation going, translation: “We’re here! I see you! We’re here too!” My horse enjoyed the conversations too 🙂
Sounds like fun, Terri.
Love the intimate portrait, Ron. Thanks for posting!
Thanks, Diane.
A crow after my own heart. Far from the cawing crowd. Intriguing birds; one never fails to wonder what they’re thinking, because somehow you know they always are, as your photos illustrate.
Lyle, I have no doubt that this crow was thinking, about something…
The most beautiful photos of a crow I’ve ever seen. Thanks Ron!
Thank you, Mark.
I raised 3 baby crows. They made a chortle sound when they found something they liked and wanted to keep away from their sibs. Perhaps this crow had something like that.
I wouldn’t be surprised, Pam. He seemed very content and happy with his situation, whatever it was…