This Homesteader Befriended a Murder of Crows, and They Just Repaid Him by Chasing Off a Hawk
As the homesteader behind B&R Homestead recently learned, befriending crows and other local wildlife can have many benefits. He began feeding crows in his backyard three months ago, but it was never his goal to just make friends.
@Bandrhomestead wanted to turn his local murder of crows into his own personal bird army, and that's exactly what he did! He couldn't be prouder as he watched the crows protect his chickens from hawks on June 2, especially knowing that his genius plan had finally come to fruition.
@bandrhomestead This is absolutely getting to my head #homestead#foilhatgang#homesteader#relatable#crows
original sound - Bandrhomestead
This is absolutely the flex he thinks it is! Befriending crows can take time, patience, and the right kind of snacks, but this homesteader had all three. After just a few months, he and the birds had enough of an agreement that they knew exactly what to do!
"You have actual scare crows," @hi.imjakio1 commented. "That's so f---ing cool!" Isn't it?
Related: Why a Harris Hawk Is Patrolling Bay Area BART Stations Every Day
Plenty of viewers encouraged the homesteader to leave the murder of crows a shiny trinket or a special snack like eggs to say thank you for their brave actions. That will definitely encourage them to keep coming back, but another commenter pointed out that these four crows may not be the only ones who get comfortable stopping by for food.
"Fun fact: those crows will tell their kids about you," shared @patrickjulien86, "and they'll tell their kids, and so on, so you'll have generational protection from raptors." Even though it sounds like an investment, feeding crows seems like a no-brainer for farmers and homesteaders who could use protection from birds of prey.
Why Crows Chase Hawks?
Crows are some of the smartest birds, and it was no accident that they chased away the hawk in the spot they get fed every day. In fact, crows chase hawks because they see them as a threat, whether or not a food source is present. In this case, these birds weren't just defending their territory and their personal restaurant-they were defending themselves, too.
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Some smaller bird species, like crows, use a strategy called mobbing to overpower larger birds. Mobbing happens when a group of small birds groups up and swoops on an unsuspecting, larger rival. This homesteader's video is a perfect example of this bird behavior, andit's likely not the last time he'll see it.
B&R Homestead has made lifelong friends with his local murder of crows, and this is only the beginning of their journey. Just wait until he gives them trinkets and new snacks!
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