How do I re-establish peaceful relations with a family of crows?

Submitted ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨reef@lemmy.ca⁩ to ⁨[deleted]⁩

A family of corvids built their nest right by my door. I’ve enjoyed seeing their nest grow, and I think the babies are now full fledglings.

Up until now, we’ve each been going out separate ways. Aside from leaving them some sticks to use, I haven’t interacted with them directly.

Today I either closed the door too hard, or they got spooked by the garbage truck passing by. A crow dive bombed me twice, hitting me the first time and whooshing by me the second time. It didn’t hurt, but I’m offended that they don’t remember me.

I know crows can hold a vendetta and remember faces. Any tips on how to get back in their good graces?

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Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works ⁨9⁩ ⁨minutes⁩ ago
Oops, you left your PBJ on the porch!

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DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world ⁨29⁩ ⁨minutes⁩ ago
I read that if you make friends with crows you become their bitch, they don’t take “no” for an answer after that. Your only option in the future may be to move.

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Shadow@lemmy.ca ⁨42⁩ ⁨minutes⁩ ago
Huh I had no idea we’re not allowed to feed crows.

I got dive bombed years ago one summer, after which I started bribing the crows with peanuts from my balcony. Now they’re used to me and let me get pretty close, or come hang out when I’m out there.

They’ve got babies out front of my building this week and show no interest in me or my dog, but I see them bombing other people regularly.

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Kolanaki@pawb.social ⁨3⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Gift them something shiny.

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- Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  If I were a young parent I wouldn’t want something shiny, I’d want diapers.
  
  I’d put out an array of snacks and see which one they pick first, then add more of that the next day.
  
  If someone feeds my babies reliably and conveniently I’ll forgive them pretty quick.
  
  They say it takes ten seconds to break trust but ten years to rebuild it, so OP is gonna have to play the long game.
  
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  - Kolanaki@pawb.social ⁨3⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    Yeah, but… You’re not a crow.
    
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  - reef@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    I don’t want them to become too dependent on me, in case it hurts their ability to find food on their own.
    
    How much food would be reasonable but not excessive?
    
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- just_another_person@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  Fact
  
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SaneMartigan@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨hour⁩ ago
You might not be allowed to feed them directly, but I bet you can eat a messy sandwich or souvlaki that drops a bunch of meat and cheese.

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- NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨hour⁩ ago
  But now you might just be feeding them without them seeing it as a friendly action and get no benefits.
  
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JohnnyEnzyme@piefed.social ⁨3⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Just as an amateur naturist, based on what I’ve read, I’m thinking it would probably be useful for you to be proactive here and make friends with these intelligent animals, not just get along with them.

So I’d recommend doing a little research and following up, which I’m thinking might involve leaving them out some kind of preferred food on a regular basis, that kind of thing.

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- lividweasel@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨hour⁩ ago
  
  Just as an amateur naturist…
  
  I’m not an expert in corvid behaviour either, but I doubt showing your naughty bits to crows is the best course of action.
  
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  - JohnnyEnzyme@piefed.social ⁨44⁩ ⁨minutes⁩ ago
    They usually get a chuckle or two, so it’s all good.
    
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- HumanOnEarth@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  Life in 2026 getting so bad the crows are extorting us now
  
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  - JohnnyEnzyme@piefed.social ⁨2⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    It’s kind of like sharing a living space with someone– good to put in a little effort to get along and be flexible rather than get off on the wrong foot and potentially antagonise them.
    
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hoshikarakitaridia@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
I don’t have a solution but I wanna bump this question, I am invested now.

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- cheese_greater@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  How could ya not be
  
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Depress_Mode@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨hour⁩ ago
I’ve heard that crows seem to recognize offerings made to them and respond well. Try going outside and, while in their sight (not too close, though), present some food to them where they can see it, carefully place it on the ground, and slowly back away out of sight once more. You may have to do this for multiple days or maybe even weeks, not sure. Otherwise, you can take solace in the fact that nesting season will probably be over shortly as crows usually only raise 1 brood a year. They also don’t usually reuse nests, but have been known to build on top of prior successful nests.

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MissesAutumnRains@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
I mean, ya gotta make amends. Give healthy food on a schedule so they know you’re committed. Perhaps leave a kindly note with a shiny bead.

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- WeeSheep@lemmy.world ⁨37⁩ ⁨minutes⁩ ago
  Mealworms, for chickens, get a 10lb bag if you can, few other animals will go for them and crows love them. Unsalted peanuts in the shell because they like to break them open, but other animals will go after them too.
  
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fireweed@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Best foods to give crows

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CannedYeet@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
ctvnews.ca/…/woman-who-rescued-injured-crow-keeps…

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TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Buy them french fries daily. Get the ones in the red carton, you know the ones. The red carton will help build visual memory. Every day, toss them some french fries. Make sure they see you.

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CannedYeet@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
lemmy.world/c/Crows

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Proprietary_Blend@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Explosives

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Melobol@lemmy.ml ⁨2⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Give them some grapes. Probably cheese would work too :)

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