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> I assume these were crows who had forever lived > in urban areas and probably never been shot at > let alone seen a gun. Easy explanation for this th
by avar 10y ago
> I assume these were crows who had forever lived
> in urban areas and probably never been shot at
> let alone seen a gun.
Easy explanation for this that's probably correct:
- Your assumption that crows don't range outside the urban area is false.
- It would have only taken one crow in the group to be familiar with a gun
- That single individual recognizing it and flying off in a panic triggers the rest to fly off, a behavior typical of herd/flock animals.
- nstart 10y agoMy assumption might be false. It doesn't necessarily have to be false. Our urban area is fairly large. I agree it would take just one crow to be familiar with a gun. But at the same time, there was no displaying of the gun. The crows weren't in the immediate vicinity. They were mostly on the trees two houses away. The recognition that I had brought out a dangerous object took just a few seconds from the moment I stepped through the door. Even if my assumption is wrong about their past, the fact that some crow(s) took the sight of the gun in so quickly is still pretty darn amazing
- bitJericho 10y agoBirds can see small objects from very far distances. Small objects from a mile or more. An eagle for example can be nearly out of your range of sight but can easily see rodents. Once the crows saw the object they would raise an alarm which is why the whole group squawked and left.
- jessaustin 10y agoAre there large urban areas that don't have large numbers of air rifles? Likewise, are there young people who, upon acquiring an air rifle, don't immediately shoot at birds with it? Both scenarios are implausibly contrary to my experience.