Here in Los Angeles I've seen two different crow/hawk
encounters. One right over my head, looked like WW II air combat --a
flock of fighter planes (crows) trying to get over the bomber (hawk),
which was spiraling ever higher. The other case was more like a
chase, and I only saw it for seconds as I drove under it.
But if you think about it, the fun-loving crows wouldn't be playing
chicken with a hawk unless there was some potential risk. The early
AM street races here in LA wouldn't be exciting if occasionally there
weren't a flaming crash. Also, evolutionarily, there wouldn't be so
many hawks in this crow-rich town if they could be bullied by crows
with impunity.
Crow smarts:
Once, while waiting in my car in a parking lot, a fellow walking by
crumpled a small snack bag and let it fall to the pavement. Within
seconds, and unseen by me sitting 3 or 4 feet away in my car, a crow
landed and strolled up to the bag, bent down, and peeked into it.
Satisfied it was empty, it flew away. I wondered if it was
following that bag while it was still in the guy's hand.
Jules Levin
Los Angeles
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