An Out-of-Nest Experience

Like many homeowners, our weekends are occupied with tasks around the house and yard, particularly at this time of year.   This Saturday we had a guest who was very interested in the mowing, weeding and trimming.   Soon after I started work outside I noticed a fledgling crow.   We have crows in the neighborhood, but they don’t hang around the birdbath and feeders the way the other birds do.   But I see them nearly every day and say “Hello crow” because some studies show that they can recognize individual humans. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/science/26crow.html )

The crows must have a nest nearby, since this little one was strictly walking, not flying.   My husband and I went about our business, trying not to bother him, but keeping an eye out for neighborhood indoor/outdoor cats.   The fledgling crow kept an eye on us.   If I spoke softly to it, it would watch me with its blue eyes, head cocked to the side just a little.   One of the outdoor faucets was dripping, which was entrancing to our new friend.   It would watch the drips, then put its head under the faucet and get dripped on, then try to catch the drops in its beak.    The stone bird bath that sits on the ground by the flower garden turned out to be pretty interesting, too.   The fledgling called out regularly for its family, and they dutifully stayed close in the tops of the trees, calling down to reassure it.   We went through the afternoon like this, the fledgling hopping around the yard, the two of us working but not getting too close, the adult crows overhead.

We were a little concerned about how the little crow would fare the night, but in the late afternoon the fledging spotted the big lilac bush in our yard.   It hopped determinedly across the lawn and jumped from branch to branch, securing a high look-out.   Just before dark, we noticed the older crows frantically calling, with no response from the fledgling.   I couldn’t see it in the lilac bush anymore.   Perhaps it had moved on - I hoped to an equally safe spot.

I woke early on Sunday to the adult crows calling again, louder and louder.   I felt as concerned about the fledgling as they sounded.  Finally a crow perched on a tree branch just above the lilac bush, calling very loudly.   No response.  How sad.   Then a moment later I heard a familiar raspy call – and when I looked out the window there was the fledgling hopping through the vegetable garden.   I guess the lilac had proved to be a good place to spend the night, and like all young animals after an exciting day, it had fallen so deeply asleep it had missed all the fretting and concern.    I went outside to check on it.   It was more standoffish than it had been yesterday, and every time it hopped it flapped its wings.   I hoped today would be the day it would fly.   I went back in the house for breakfast until I heard a huge ruckus.    Crows screaming, fledgling screaming.   I ran outside to where I’d heard the fledgling calling and saw some tall flowers move.   I walked over slowly and cautiously and found a neighbor’s cat hiding.   I sent him packing.   I moved away and didn’t hear the fledgling for a bit, though the other crows were calmer.   Then I heard the fledgling again – but this time over my head in the trees.    The little crow had done it!   It was safe in the tree tops, begging for food and hanging out with its family.    I’m glad I had the privilege of watching its first couple of days outside the nest.

Denise Vaillancourt is vice president of finance at the Forest Society.