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Dining Companions
By Liss | October 16, 2007
At least as many times as I’m the right place at the just the right time for an incredible photo, I miss out on a perfect chance because I don’t have my camera with me.
Today was a excellent case in point. I took a break from working to go to Metropolitan Market and get a tasty lunch. As is my wont, I took it over to the picnic tables by the Burke-Gilman Trail and ate my meal, despite threatening rain.
While I was munching on my turkey and potatoes, a young adult crow came by, to sit on the ashtray less than four feet away and stare at my food. I was already amazed at how close he was, although the scruffy juvenile mobs are rather notorious for being incautious when it comes to eating. He then decided that it was safe to move closer to me, slowly stalking me and my food with his little hesitant crow hops. Eventually, he even flew up, clawed the edge of the table on the other side, and then flew away, distressed at his own temerity.
As an amateur naturalist and someone who occasionally volunteers with wildlife, it’s against my nature to feed the birds, especially with human food. However, I have a major soft spot for corvids and this little feathered fury was amusing the heck out of me. I wanted to see how close he would actually get. I put a carrot about two and a half feet across from me on the table and watched him do his risk assessment. He landed on the other edge of the table, barely clinging to it with his claws and trying to dart in his head to get the carrot without moving in closer. When he didn’t succeed after many tries and with much vocal coaxing from me, he finally gave in, landed on the table, grabbed the carrot and ran off.
Of course, four other crows flew in and taunted him while he tried to eat the carrot, darting in and trying to steal his meal. He did manage to get it down though and then came begging back for more. Against my better judgment, I put out a green bean, which he took at least five minutes to steal, while I talked to him and made eye contact.
After I was finished eating, I put my nearly empty tray less than a foot from my elbow and continued to glance at the catalog I had been reading. Apparently, the crows had figured out that I wasn’t a threat, because all five of them dove in at least once to steal bits from practically under my arm.
It was highly amusing, entertaining, and beautiful to watch. Dang though, I wish I’d had my camera.
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Topics: Nature, Vignettes, Photography |