Our Hmong Neighbors Call Us The "Crow People," I Discovered..

[MineralMan]

On yesterday's walk with our dogs, a child down the street called out to another child, "It's the Crow People!" The two kids ran over to pet our dogs, who absolutely adore children of all ages.

It's no wonder we have that name, though. When we moved into our house in St. Paul, MN, over 13 years ago, we immediately put a bird feeder and bird bath out in our front yard. Then, when the squirrels moved in to raid the bird feeder, we started throwing out peanuts in the shell for them, to let the birds have a chance at the feeders.

Soon, we had a dozen squirrels in yard, both gray and red, along with the occasional white or black squirrel. But those peanuts also caught the eye of a crow a few years ago. That crow told another crow, and before long, we had a couple dozen crows on our lawn every morning and evening when we threw food out. Now, I don't even bother to count the crows.

They know when feeding time is and fill the trees along the street, waiting for my wife to come out the door and throw out the peanuts. We supplement those with cheap dry cat food, as well, since it's mainly grain-based and good for crows. We added that so the squirrels could at least compete for the peanuts.

Yes, it has all gotten a little out of control, and we buy peanuts in the shell in 50-lb bags from a nearby feed store now, to save money, along with giant bags of cat food and bird seed of various types, to keep the smaller birds happy. Rabbits, too. They started showing up to eat the sprouts from the birdseed waste, along with some of the seeds the birds don't eat. Wild turkeys, too, occasionally.

So, now, my wife and I are the "Crow People" to the children of the Hmong families who make up about 2/3 of our neighbors. We're also the "Friendly Dog People" and who knows what else. In spite of all the ugliness in the world, life's still good in our little corner of it. Life continues, and it's nice to be recognized by the neighbor children. Sometimes we all need a break from politics, I guess.

[saidsimplesimon]

1. Many thanks

to you and the Mrs. for your efforts. I am jealous that you have the honored title of "Crow People". They are very intelligent, the Crows, and stay away from scary people according to a PBS documentary on the subject.

[MineralMan]

2. There's another advantage. Nobody parks on the street in front

of our house.

[saidsimplesimon]

3. Very funny

What, no one wants a squirrel in the engine or gifts from above?

[ChazInAz]

4. Another consideration

Crows and ravens just LOVE to admire their handsome reflections on shiny surfaces, such as clean cars, windshields, rear-view mirrors. This involves much hopping around with needle sharp talons on freshly-waxed automobiles, the occasional argument with one's corvid reflections which includes a bit of pecking at said reflection. We won't mention what happens if a window is left open, other than to comment that our black-feathered friends do enjoy liberating anything that catches their interest.
I am very fond of ravens and crows.

[saidsimplesimon]

5. I also feed ravens and crows,

while chasing away the pigeons, bird bias on my part.

[MineralMan]

7. We don't have any pigeons, but do have many doves

who visit our feeders and the ground under them. In the winter, we put out suet blocks, which bring in the woodpeckers of all types, and we even get spring and fall visits from Pileated woodpeckers. Here's a lousy video of a female and two fledglings in our yard:

[a kennedy]

8. I love the doves......we laughed one year, we put up a platform for them to use as a nesting place

and they would bring a twig or two to put on the platform for the "nest". We counted that one summer 5 broods!!! 5 !!! we started calling her a slut being she was pregnant almost all summer. We had to take the platform down when we added on our garage, but they still nest in our blue spruce tree and have a ton of babies. Such a beautiful bird.

[markbark]

43. The ravens should take care of the pigeons

while not raptors per se, they have been known to take advantage of making an easy snack of smaller birds.

[MineralMan]

6. They're a noisy lot, but interesting to watch.

Even though the crows that visit us daily know that we provide food, they remain wary of us and fly off when either of us comes out the door, returning only when we go back inside. Occasionally, though, our crows will call to us when we walk our dogs, from trees in the neighborhood. Clearly, they recognize us.

I've known a couple of tame crows that were raised by humans from a very early age. They were interesting companions for their humans, and very attached to them. Crows are also very tribal in nature, and appear to have empathy for members of their group. I have seen crows bring food to an injured crow and have watched parent demonstrate things to fledglings, such as how to open a peanut to get at the food inside.

We get to observe them often. It's also interesting that there is no bickering between the various animal species who visit our yard and compete for the same food. They all just get food and eat it, without any apparent dissent among each other. It's fascinating to watch, really.

[Hortensis]

32. Lots of woods around here, and crows only occasionally come near the

house because they're so shy. But now that they've identified the fig trees right outside the kitchen, they've joined the other birds that come each day to inspect the fruit as it ripens, and then to clean the good stuff out each day. I'm not particularly fond of figs, planted them for my husband, who can't be bothered to gather most of it, so the birds are very welcome. Also the raccoons who set off the exterior lights at night and put on quite a show trying to get to fruit at the ends of limbs far too supple for their weight.

Otherwise, my biggest memories of our crows are of two major battles in the woods. Couldn't see, but what a racket! It sounded like two rival gangs shooting it out at great length.

[trof]

34. And the squirrels like to chew the insullation off your ignition wires.

Twice.
Had to have the car rewired.
$$$

Also had to have my house squirrel-proofed after they got into the attic and walls.
$$$$$$$$$$

I shoot 'em on sight now.
Fuck squirrels.

[GulfCoast66]

42. Fried with gravy for the young ones

Stewed with dumplings for the old ones. I am from Louisiana and squirrel is on the menu!

[trof]

48. Rice and gravy.

[BigmanPigman]

9. They are considered a "problem" by many people in various cities.

A lot of articles have been written about their intelligence and increasing numbers throughout the US. When I was teaching the crows and seagulls were like a scene from "The Birds" every day. They were so loud I would have to close the classroom windows and one day as I walked to my car past the outdoor lunch tables a chicken drumstick almost hit my head as it was dropped by a crow. I take my 7 pound dog to the park and groups of them call at her and after she has left "their spot to eat" they come back down and that is when I can compare their sizes. They are at least twice as big as she is. I remember reading "Little House Books" to my class and there was a chapter where the crows ate all the family's corn crop. The father shot into the air (to scare them off but it didn't do any good) and a ton of dead crows would come down with each shot so the family made them into "crow pies" and they were delicious. They also sang "The song of Sixpence...4 and 20 blackbirds baked into a pie...".

[MineralMan]

10. No problem for us, except maybe how to pay for all

that food we're putting out for them.

[trof]

35. No, just a problem for others.

meh

[yuiyoshida]

11. One of my best Friends was a lovely Hmong

She lives in San Jose and her father was a shaman. She used to describe some of the interesting events her family would have to celebrate their traditions. Some of the meals, I heard were to die for, so yummy.. I really miss her, and Haven't heard from her in years.

We both went to see BOA Kwon in San Francisco that year and got to meet each other...

I Was THERE!! IN THE FRONT ROW!!!

[MineralMan]

12. A Hmong Shaman Lives Two Doors Down the Street

from our house. He's a very nice man. We often hear the gong used in their ceremonies.

[yuiyoshida]

13. Interesting, one of the things I shared with her is that

My grandfather is a Hawaiian Kahuna. Which is like a Shaman.. in Hawaiian culture. I have never met my grandfather, because I have not been to Hawaii yet, and my parents never want to go back. (Some kind of family feud, which is why my parents moved to San Francisco)

I may never get to meet him, he is already 99 years old and probably doesn't have long to live, but than, who knows, he may make it to 100 and over...

[lunasun]

27. OH you should go . Your relationship with him have nothing to do with your parents and his relations

with you have nothing to do with them either. Even if you can only afford a day or two get to meet him . Big Kahuna , I never knew what that term meant thank you

[nolabear]

14. We have resident crows that I love as well.

There's a neighbor that feeds them regularly so I don't much but I have feeders and bird baths and they love them. When it got really smoky here over the summer they all disappeared for a while and I was worried as hell, but they're back. One pair in particular lives on the block and they're wonderful to watch and talk to.

They hate my dog, though. LOL! They yell at her a lot.

[sarge43]

23. They don't like to fly in fog or smoke. Seems to frighten them.

On a foggy morning we can hear our gang crying and whining.

[dembotoz]

15. My church also houses Hmong congregation.

Pastor serves both
Interesting people

[MineralMan]

16. There are several churches here that do that.

They are interesting people, but it is difficult to establish relationships with them on more than a surface level. I get along well with all of my neighbors, though, and am happy to relate to them in a way that works for both of us.

[thbobby]

17. Kinda non non related story...

My parent were avid bird watchers. Fed them daily and would spend hours watching and learning about them. I gave them books from National Audubon Society to help them recognize different species.

My father grew very interested in purple martins. They lived on a smallish farm. This was in early internet days. My first purchase from Amazon was "Attracting Purple Martins". I do not remember the author. It was his favorite gift that I ever gave him. He called it his "Martin Bible". He did succeed in getting Martins to settle in houses he had built for him. At one time, he had several hundred birds that nested in the houses.

Martins are a migratory bird that spend half their time in South America. They are considered a major pest there. But they are carnivorous and help with insects. More importantly, they brought my mom and dad much pleasure in the later years of their life. I enjoyed teasing him about how much trouble he was causing in South America. He had very close and dear Hispanic friends who lived in Southern Mexico. Good times!

[George II]

18. I was talking about crows with a friend of mine just the other day. Crows nest and travel...

....in large groups, sometimes a few thousand at a time. Once or twice a year our neighborhood is flooded with crows, apparently there's a huge roost about 15 miles from here and they set out each morning in a flock.

We've had as many as 100 or more on our front lawn in the past. They land, peck around a little bit, then take off again - never more than about 10-15 minutes. It's always mid-morning and in the winter when there's no snow on the ground.

Google "crow roosts" for more information.

[sarge43]

21. Crows do extended families. They're not loners like ravens.

That flock is probably several generations deep - grand parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws.

[Retrograde]

19. We used to have mockingbirds in my neighborhood

Then the crows showed up and the mockingbirds haven't been seen or heard from since. Neither have the jays. Come to think of it, I haven't seen a hummingbird in some time. I hear the occasional hawk, but the crows have driven most of them away as well. I once saw a pair of crows drive a young racoon away from their nest. Ever since they moved in it's all crows all the time. (I live in the heart of Silicon Valley, in an area built up in the early 1900s - we had a wide variety of wildlife Before Crows).

One of the scarier things I've seen was a coven of crows at the ocean, obviously checking out the beachfront property. I don't want to be there for the apocalyptic battle between the crows and the seagulls.

[nocalflea]

29. Thanks for that last paragraph. LOL.

Grew up about 15/20 miles inland from Bodega Bay . No trip to Bodega was complete without a dire seagull advisory from my dad. The Birds was mandatory viewing in our home.

[panader0]

20. Actually, I am part Crow--- one eighth.

[Maynar]

22. Back in the day

we played a computer game called Heretic 2. The hero's name was Corvus. We built up quite a cool little community, which can still be found on FB.

Crow facts.

[leftofcool]

24. We live in the woods.

You should see what hangs around our deer feeder...........besides the deer.

[MineralMan]

25. I'm sure. I'd love it.

[Not Ruth]

26. That is what the Wildings call the Northerners also

[Codeine]

44. All Northerners or just the Black Watch? nt

[Doreen]

28. A couple of years back I lived in a cottage in the country.

We had a squirrel feeder for mixed nuts, a bird feeder, and I put seed on the ground also. I lined nuts up along the window ledge and the table under our covered patio so we got to see the squirrels up close. The ledge of one of the windows where we put the nuts was also in front of the table we fed the cats on. Nothing like watching the cats bang their head on the window while the squirrels just calmly keep eating their nuts. We had blue jays, a few crows once in a while, some birds that were gray and blue, yellow and black spotted birds, and my favorite were the morning doves. We also got apples or pears cut them to make easier to eat and put them out on the lawn to feed the deer. Of course I had to bring in left over nuts every night from the squirrel feeder or the raccoons would eat it all. I did leave a variety of left over critter food for the raccoons. We did not feed them but we got to hear the sing songs of coyotes hunting at night. I miss that place so much.

[MineralMan]

38. Sounds lovely!

[Hekate]

30. Thanks for my first smile of the day

In my recently-departed neighborhood we had crows, hawks, mockingbirds, hummingbirds, and an abundance of "little brown birds." Only a few blocks away is a wild area with many more species. (I love to spot birds, but my inherent myopia makes it difficult. Nonetheless I have several paperbacks on California coastal birds and over the years have checked off everything I could identify.)

The mockingbirds are very brave for their size -- they will pair up to chase predator-birds away, especially hawks. Crows are harder to chase off, as they hunt in gangs, but I've seen the mockinbirds do it to singles. I've seen crows separate a pair of hawks and chase them from the neighborhood -- it made me worry about the fate of that pair of hawks. Unlike with mockingbirds, seeing a gang of crows go after the hawks seems unfair. The mockingbirds stop after awhile -- the crows didn't.

There's a saying: "a murder of crows." (A pride of lions, a flock of geese, a litter of kittens, a pack of dogs...) If you've ever seen a whole flock descend in your back yard and act as judge, jury, and executioner of one of their own, you will understand. I saw that once as a little kid in the San Fernando Valley.

Our (former) street is lined with liquid ambar trees, and after a strong wind shakes the spiky pods off all over the street the crows take interest. Even better is after the cars have run over the pods and threshed them, so to speak. The crows descend in numbers for easy pickings.

I've read about crow intelligence -- they do seem absolutely amazing.

Our new neighborhood in Ventura is tucked just behind some low foothills. We're just getting used to the abundance of coyotes. (We have a 12 pound dog, and the Tricksters are bold and unafraid.)

The neighbors tell us that there used to be both quail and roadrunners in the area. I'm sorry they departed. I've seen red tailed hawks and turkey buzzards overhead. Inside the hedges I can hear many other birds, but unless they come out from the leaves and twigs I probably will never know what they are. One has a lovely liquid trill. There definitely have to be more species than I have seen so far. I look forward to meeting them.

[MineralMan]

39. My pleasure!

Your neighborhood critters will show themselves, I'm sure.

[Codeine]

45. Last year we heard the most unearthly bird noise

ever during a gathering of friends in Ventura. It turned out to be a Cooper's Hawk, hollering for who knows what reason. Some very cool birds in your area!

[Hekate]

46. As time goes on I do have hopes of spotting him and others...

I got pretty good at silhouettes of flying birds at one point, but have trouble seeing details like color and markings unless they are close enough. Once they land in a tree that's leafed out, forget it.

However, I will persist. I mean -- birds. ❤️

[nocalflea]

31. Love this.

Took me back to my childhood. Your neighborhood is the America I grew up in. This apartment dweller is glad to see it still exists.

I love the neighborhood myths. The old guy with the mean dog. The kid who was nothing but trouble. The house where someone killed themselves, supposedly. Straight out of "To kill a Mockingbird " America. Thanks for that nostalgic feeling.

[MineralMan]

41. It seems a lot like my childhood

small town neighborhood, too, right in a big city. A pleasant surprise.

[raven mad]

33. Lots of what are "little bitty birds"

and our ravens, which aren't little........

And birdseed ALL winter! Drives our cats nuts, and it is so neat that folks love you for being who you are.

[TuxedoKat]

36. I feed Crows too

and other birds as well.

[malaise]

37. That's beautiful

Made me think of Omaha Steve - haven't seen him in a while

[Sunlei]

40. I used to work for an "eccentric man" who did the same thing for beach birds, feral cats & his dogs.

couple hundred pounds of grains on the beach (he owned 3 mansions-homes in a row on toms river, NJ) open cases of canned cat food, (fat cats everywhere) and unlimited canned food for his 2 dogs who were sooo overweight. He also collected birds, sea otters and many, many!primates.

He had a personal Vet flown in weekly, would land on the river in a pontoon plane and Vet any animals needing 'care'.

I know it must be fun to attract that many animals, but when the support feeding goes away...many animals will starve to death. Not the crows, they'll never starve with all those squirrel nests and bird nests/birds to eat.

[kpete]

47. Loved this