I spent yesterday (Saturday) working out in the yard in my south AA county home. At one point, I looked up to see two BALD EAGLES flying low. They circled upward, and I was able to count at least 4 more in the next few minutes. Also a RED SHOULDERED HAWK and a probably NORTHERN HARRIER. Along with these birds, there were four of five BLACK VULTURES and a half-dozen or so TURKEY VULTURES.
I kept hearing a very strange CROW - kind of a "kurring" call, throaty and deep - almost mechanical. The crow making this noise was chased over the house by another obviously AMERICAN CROW, who was calling. The odd crow flew into the trees, making a croaking noise, and the other flew off. I do NOT think it was a RAVEN, as the sound was not classical for raven (according to the recordings, as I do not have experience with this species!). The size was the same as the crow. I was trying to look at the bill as it flew over, and didn't notice anything different. I forgot to look to see if the tail was different. I think it was a crow, but just very odd.
I also heard a deep, "kurring", almost a deep trill, coming from the crows. At one point, I heard that sound coming right at me, looked up, and saw a group of six crows chasing a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. The hawk flew almost over me, low, the crows seemed to get distracted at that point, and broke off, flying back to their trees.
I have never heard these strange crow sounds - maybe agitation?
Joanne
Joanne Howl, DVM
West River, MD |