When The Crow Calls

Posted bydebirileyPosted inart, Impressionist, inspiration, photographyTags:, , , , , , , ,
Crow Calling Perth, australia photo debiriley.com

When the crow calls, what does it mean?  I asked myself on my last bush walking adventure through the  park and through the swamp. Did I know if it was really a crow, or is it a raven?  Inquiring minds want to know so I’d better find out!

Crow Calling Perth, australia photo debiriley.com
When the Crow Calls bushwalking in the swamp debiriley.com

After a morning of research on crow calls, I discovered that my blue eyed bush stalker was a Torresian  crow  ‘corvus orris.’   So I was right, it was a crow, whew!   Honestly, I wouldn’t know what a raven looked like.

Torresian Crows are glossy black, with throat hackle/feathers that fluff up, as you can see in the above photo.  Their eyes are actually white with a cobalt blue ring in them, but when they are young the eyes are brown.  Interestingly like humans.

When it lands on a tree branch it wiggles and shuffles its wings a bit.  I found this rather engaging.  She/he  began making calls in short bursts almost like waiting to hear from another bird.  Which,  indeed was what was happening I found out.

This is a Companion Call.  It sits in a tree, looks around then calls out 1-9 times. Waits and listens. Then repeats this several more times. This is what my crow was doing for about 10 minutes, then perhaps tired of not being answered,  Blue Eyes flew off.

Crows are amazing intelligent!

In Japan, a group of crows have figured out that they drop a hard shelled nut onto the street from the wire above. They wait until a car smashes it open. Then go down to scoop it up. But even better than that…..  recently, they situated themselves near  a pedestrian crossing and wait for the light to Stop the traffic before they swoop down to collect their treat!   I had to see the documentary to believe it was possible. Amazing.

 

Crow Tree in Swamps Perth Australia debiriley.com
Crow Tree debiriley.com

This was a great walk through the forest and swamp area,  the sense of depth and mystery was intense,  but peaceful at the same time.

The Swamp Crow Perth Australia debiriley.com
The Crow

 

The sunlight and foliage in the background with yellows and blues dappling together is a lovely backdrop.  I like the tree too,  but its the background that really I’m most drawn to. I feel that to get the best sense of depth, generally speaking,  the backgrounds play the most important role with their lovely soft edges.

 

Swamp Trees debiriley.com
The Old Growth Forest Swamp Trees Perth, Australia debiriley.com

Another pleasant walk,  filling the well, gathering creative resources to draw upon down the track.

There’s a lot to be said for the old fashioned  ‘just going for a walk’ !

Published by debiriley

The act of creation, in any media is a fascinating and magical process. I simply love to create. Expressing in color, line, tone, texture - as if, they were words upon a page. Creating a uniquely me, interpretation. Enjoy More of my "one-of-a-kind" expressive art at society6.com/debiriley and, redbubble.com/people/debijriley/shop

12 thoughts on “When The Crow Calls”

  2. You are right. They are incredibly intelligent! By my place is a road made from old granite stones – crows come here with nuts and throw them from trees on the ground. Nuts break apart on the stones (other streets around me have asphalt surfaces and on my street only in front of my and my neighbor’s house is no cars parked on the street, so they come here. And only there are empty shells – last Autumn I have checked for nuts’ shells all streets in 2km distance from my house.
    I learn more about these birds, because I feed wounded crow since 3 months and observe her and her friends more (she lives outside and nowadays is coming for my call, she’s getting better, she also often waits on the ground near by my door and scream on my parents, when they appear).
    You might like this speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXQAgzfwuNQ 🙂

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    1. I love all the other birds, but crows… I haven’t been able to really like, they just seem a bit ‘dark’ However, I may be changing my opinion 🙂

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      1. Me too. I’m doing this right now 🙂 I still don’t like them, but they are interesting. I have got this idea some time ago, I don’t need to like them, understanding and respecting will be also good.
        I have seen my crow seating with a head in the bush (probably staring at young birds in the nest…). Nature can be brutal and it is a world without cutlery.

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      2. hey, I like that! ‘don’t need to like them’ understanding and respecting is good… well said 🙂 they are very sly at preying the newest hatchlings

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  3. Hi Debi, Love your “When the Crow Calls” posting. Photos and copy are wonderful. Every year the crows have a major landing in Austin and take over the place! They have great silhouettes and body language, as you know. Best wishes, Leslie

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    1. thank you very much! i believe the gnarly trees might be swamp paperbark trees?… but they’re very mysterious looking 🙂 thanks for coming by and looking/liking.. I do appreciate it!

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