We understand that some young birds peck their mothers to prompt feeding. It was on 27th June 2018 that Jackie discovered this the hard way when Russell Crow became imprinted on her.
Bravely tolerating the onslaught in the interests of photographic art my wife bore it as long as she could. Thereafter, as he swooped on her every time she left the house, and even followed her into the kitchen, she became afraid and eventually chased him away. It was several years before he left his solitary perch on a neighbour’s roof, apparently the only member of his species without a mate.
Does anyone have a view on our interpretation of this episode?
Sound entirely plausible. Jackie is an incredibly good sport. I thought bird imprinted on their mother,not a mate, but what do I know?
My thought is that the bird was behaving as if Jackie were his mother and then didn’t understand he was a crow
Thanks very much, Pat. We imagine the crow thought Jackie was its mother and therefore didn’t know he was a crow
Love your interpretation.
Fascinating! Jackie is such a fun and tolerant model.
Thank you so much, Val
Oh my goodness! Jackie is more than a good sport!
I feel a little bit bad for the crow…
Thank you so much, Dale
Caw! Caw! Caw!
🙂
Made me sad to think of Russell pining away for a mate on his perch…Perhaps no potential mates matched up to “mom.”
Probably not, Barbara, 🙂
Beautiful set!
Thank you very much, Alexander
Russell Crow? <3 it! And Jackie's tolerance? Impeccable!
So when did <3 begin not to show as a heart? Ah well…wordpress.
Thanks very much, Donna
Crows are very smart and remember people, even if it wasn’t imprinting, he might have associated her with food and/or good things. It’s too bad it got to me too much. Poor Russell. Jackie was a good sport for that photographer. 😉
Thank you so much, Merril
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Ha, great series! Looks like Russell simply had a taste for ear!
Thanks very much, Denzil
Jackie is a very good sport in allowing you to make that series of corvid/human imprinting photos!
Thank you so much, Liz
I can’t explain the behaviour, Derrick, you are probably right with your interpretation of imprinting on Jackie. Her expressions are fun!
Thanks very much, John
You’re welcome!
Interesting. Would not happen at my place due to Remington.
Thanks very much, Andy. We may have to borrow him if it happens again 🙂
You’re welcome. He would be glad to help.
🙂
Hi Derrick
We have tame jackdaws here too. Well, Dina tamed them, actually bribed them with sultanas. They are coming into the hall of our house as well. We don’t allow them any further.
Keep well
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thanks very much, Klausbernd
Fascinating!
In my opinion some pets don’t know they are not human
We think you are right, Luisa. Thank you very much.
My pleasure 🙂
Jackie’s far more tolerant of Russell Crow than I could ever be 🙂
Nor me, Rosaliene. Thank you very much
Sounds the likely scenario to me!
Thanks very much, John
Crows have an excellent memory and if someone is nice to them, they remember. It looks like Jackie is known in the avian circles, perhaps her robin told them.
Quite likely, GP. Thank you very much.
great series! kodus to Jackie for such a good sport! 🙂
Thank you very much, Wilma
Some husbands would have stepped in to help, rather than just taking photos. You are so lucky. 🙂
I am 🙂 Thanks very much, Quercus
🙂
This proves Russell Crow is smart and knows a good woman when he sees one! 🙂
Ooh, maybe Nugget spread the word…Nugget wrote a review (on his FowlBook page, or his WordPerch blog) that your garden was THE place to be…loving Human-Beans, great ambience, beautiful setting, wonderful shelter and food, ETC!
Jackie’s expressions say it all! AND she is a GREAT sport! 🙂 ❤️
(((HUGS))) ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thank you so much, Carolyn XX
I have three theories:
1. Tales of Jackie, The Best Friend of All Birds, has gone viral on InterBirdNet, and this guy decided to see for himself.
2. He has Dissociative Identity Disorder, and one of his personalities is a very annoying human child endlessly pestering his mother.
3. He still has DID, but another one of his personalities is an obsessive womanizer (I hope you are not jealous, Derrick).
Fantastic set of photos of Jackie being her lovely patient self.
Thank you very much, Dolly, for this imaginative set of theories. The first is my favourite
The pleasure is mine, Derrick. I am glad you like my wild flight of imagination.
Always
I read that crows remember the faces of humans and can become attached. The crow must have seen Jackie more than any human when he watched her daily endeavours in the garden.
and we all know she is the bird lady of Christ Church Road, the avian horse whisperer! 🙂
Thank you so much, Sue. Good thoughts
Jackie’s facial impressions made my day. I needed that.
Thanks very much, Bridget
One year we had a grackel that visited the boat every morning. We kept tempting it with toast, which it gladly accepted. Then, silly goofs that we were, we decided to see if we could tempt it down into the interior of the boat. Of course we could. Once the pattern was set, it would appear every morning, pecking on the companionway until we let it in and gave it a bit of buttered toast.
Thanks very much, Linda. An intelligent bird 🙂
I’m having flashbacks of The Birds by Hitchcock. Jackie is brave!
So true, Jill. And a good link with The Birds. Thank you very much
Jackie was very patient with this dilemma. My guess is that someone who resembled Jackie fed this crow.
A good thought, JoAnna.Thank you very much.
Such different expressions captured. Hi Jackie, love your smile.
Thanks very much, Arlene
Oh no! Ouch. Sorry I have no suggestions.
Thank you so much, Chrissy
My goodness Jackie deserved a medal for being your photographic subject matter!
She did, indeed, Catherine. Thank you very much
Birds are truly fascinating creatures. There is a Common Fiscal that flies towards me as soon as I open the door to the garden and sits on my hand until I give it a tiny bit of this or that. I never go outside for breakfast without something for it.
Thank you very much, Anne. That is fun
Jackie, you are a brave soul. This is an amazing series of photos, and clearly the young fellow loves you. Crows are incredibly smart. I’ve read that they mate for life, and keep the young one nearby for at least two years.
Thank you so much from us both, Alys
I remember Russel Crow! Crows are highly intelligent birds. I am not sure of their imprinting habits, but I can tell you a parakeet story as relayed to me by the owner of said parakeet. They will imprint on people, and her male parakeet imprinted on her. He had selected her as his “mate”, would land on her shoulder daily, sing his heart out, and followed by regurgitating a dollop of birdseed on her. Apparently this is a traditional mating gift from the male to the female. My friend never accepted the gift, understandably, and one day he landed on her shoulder, sang his heart out, then gave her a severe pecking out of frustration for unrequited love.
A great story Lavinia – rather confirming our thoughts. Jackie had fed it some bread first. Thanks very much
Oh wow! This is interesting! I never thought they get so close!
A bit too close! Thanks very much, Ribana
It is amazing how animals and birds have such delicate feelings and emotions as that of humans do! I never thought they do, but as I grow old I learned it.
Thank you very much, Byung. Me, too
where is the bird now?
We don’t know – but he is quite possibly still one of our visitors. Thanks very much, Q
Jackie is obviously a bird whisperer
Indeed. Thanks very much, Sheree
Lovly photos:)
Thank you very much, Ingalill