Not sure how they did it, but this pair managed to build a nest on the underside of the Alaska Way Viaduct in downtown Seattle
Published March 31, 2016 in Everything you want to know about crow nests | Full size is 3000 × 4000 pixels
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Drat, what is this rather feathered thing? Strutting aroung as if a king. To Insta I’ll go And ask #CrowOrNo. I’ll relish the answers you bring! . . . . 📸 by @chris_olivegreen. #crow #raven #scicomm #scicommge #BirdID #corvidOh dear, is there something wrong with this crow’s eye? On the contrary, this crow is demonstrating a totally normal part of its anatomy! This cloudy lens is called the nictitating membrane, or third eyelid. Nictitating membranes are present in birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and even some mammals. How much control animals have over them and what they look like can vary widely. For example, all birds can actively control their membrane whereas, in manatees and beavers, the lens closes passively when their heads are underwater. For animals that use them to protect their eyes while hunting or engaging in critical activities, they are generally clear. As you can see with this crow, however, sometimes the lens is only translucent, and in these cases it's mostly used to clear debris from the eyes, or even for communication. For example, we know crows blink less when they are frightened. Lower detection of the membrane may help signal to other crows that the individual is looking at something scary. Other uses of the membrane include protecting the eyes from injury while attacking prey, hammering on wood (if you're a woodpecker), or from UV light. In fact, polar bears are one of the few mammals with a full (rather than vestigial) nictitating membrane precisely because it helps prevent snow blindness, which is a condition caused by over-exposure to the UV light that reflects off snow and ice. #crow #corvid #ilovecrows #eyes #scicomm #didyouknow #themoreyouknow #beach #nictitatingmembrane #wildlifebiologist #corvidresearch #crowstrut #blindcrow #crowtographSo excited to debut my new @madisonerinmayfield designed #CorvidResearch stickers at the La Conner bird festival on the 26th! In advance of my talk at 4:00 I’ll have a booth all day where I’ll be selling these, and some prints of my photography. I have no idea how many people will want stickers so for now I only have 10 each. Do you plan on attending the event and are interested? Would you be interested in buying them online? Either way let me know so I can decide if I need to have more printed. They are 3in and I plan on selling them for $2 or less, depending on overhead. Excited!!!! #laconnerbirdfestival #visitlaconner #stickermule #merch #crow #magpie #canadajay #greyjay #whiskyjack #camprobber #corvid #ilovecorvids #birds #birdstickersIt’s been two whole weeks since you’ve nourished your hunger for #CrowOrNo. I hope this challenge fills your appetite. Answer at around 5:30, contingent on my travel status to Vancouver for today’s @scienceontaporwa! #crow #raven #bird #corvid #ilovecorvids #scicomm #scicommgame #birdIDAdios 2018! Before we officially say goodbye though, let’s look back on all the incredible things we learned about corvids in 2018. From deciphering calls to innovative tool use, scientists and the amazing corvids they study dazzled us with cool new discoveries all year long. My latest blogpost recaps 5 of the most fascinating and sometimes tragic (I’m looking at you critically endangered Mariana crow) studies of the year. Link in bio-I hope you check it out! What do you hope we learn about crows in 2019? Let me know in the ol’ comments! #Happynewyear! #scicomm #science #research #wildliferesearch #crow #raven #marianacrow #newcaledoniancrow #smartanimals #funfact #ilovecrows #crowlove #corvidloveMy latest blogpost fact checks a popular crow joke. You know the one...”what’s the difference between a crow and a raven? It’s a matter of a pinion!”. Trouble is, crows and ravens have the same number of primary feathers! So read up to learn how you too can be a complete killjoy to your friends and family. And please let me know your favorite corvid puns and jokes in the comments! #crowlove #crowjoke #scicomm #factcheck #ilovecrows #seattlecrow #crow #corvid #crows
