I loved your description of the jackdaw; it is my favourite bird. I once worked at a wild bird hospital where an injured female jackdaw, unable to be returned to the wild, was visited every day by her partner bringing her gifts. He brought string, empty sweet wrappers, drink ring pulls, all kinds of weird stuff! He also brought nesting material for her and they diligently built a nest together. There was a gap in the roof where he came and went. Such beautiful birds.
Love the corvids. When I lived in a flat in Australia we were level with the currawongs nests. They loved to play tricks on each other. Smart as, as they say in Oz.
I found delight in these vivid character sketches of your corvid kin. Praise indeed! Clearly you have a close personal relationship with them, while maintaining a proper respect for their wild ways. And your humor put a smile on my morning, thank you for all of it.
I met jackdaws for the first time when I visited Ireland a few years back and was immediately entranced by their chatter and their choreographed dances at dusk.
Thank you for this lovely essay. Across the lane from my house is a tiny old church where rooks roost. I love them, but keep my distance. Five minutes walk from here there there are ravens, and nearby there are buzzards, although I don't know where they nest. I see, or hear, these wild neighbours every day, and their presence brings me joy and hope. I am sometimes envious of Instagram reels and stories I come across in which people have developed relationships with wild creatures, but have steered away from that myself, wondering if it was some kind of lack of compassion or empathy in me. It is reassuring to read here that you also prefer to keep some distance. I appreciate their wildness and freedom, and prefer to protect it if I can. 💕
You can befriend avians, but it will take time and patience to build trust. I have befriended many here. Bear in mind, to befriend is the opposite of domesticate or dominate. It is to view our avian dinosaur companions with an equal measure of appreciation and awe.
Cohabit, Share, Live Together, Co-operate with our avian friends. You can't really tame or domesticate a bird. Humans only think they can, but it is an idea birthed from our arrogance and a misplaced sense of our place in the world.
I loved your description of the jackdaw; it is my favourite bird. I once worked at a wild bird hospital where an injured female jackdaw, unable to be returned to the wild, was visited every day by her partner bringing her gifts. He brought string, empty sweet wrappers, drink ring pulls, all kinds of weird stuff! He also brought nesting material for her and they diligently built a nest together. There was a gap in the roof where he came and went. Such beautiful birds.
Thank you Ingrid. That is a wonderful story, and one which I will now tell to everybody who will listen!
Love the jackdaw too and loved your text. TX!
Thanks Sarah
Love the corvids. When I lived in a flat in Australia we were level with the currawongs nests. They loved to play tricks on each other. Smart as, as they say in Oz.
Thanks Sue. I've never heard of currawongs. What an amazing name!
I found delight in these vivid character sketches of your corvid kin. Praise indeed! Clearly you have a close personal relationship with them, while maintaining a proper respect for their wild ways. And your humor put a smile on my morning, thank you for all of it.
Thank you Carmine.
I met jackdaws for the first time when I visited Ireland a few years back and was immediately entranced by their chatter and their choreographed dances at dusk.
Thanks Kimberly. They are wonderful birds.
Thank you for this lovely essay. Across the lane from my house is a tiny old church where rooks roost. I love them, but keep my distance. Five minutes walk from here there there are ravens, and nearby there are buzzards, although I don't know where they nest. I see, or hear, these wild neighbours every day, and their presence brings me joy and hope. I am sometimes envious of Instagram reels and stories I come across in which people have developed relationships with wild creatures, but have steered away from that myself, wondering if it was some kind of lack of compassion or empathy in me. It is reassuring to read here that you also prefer to keep some distance. I appreciate their wildness and freedom, and prefer to protect it if I can. 💕
Thank you Ali. Letting them remain wild has become the most important thing to me.
You can befriend avians, but it will take time and patience to build trust. I have befriended many here. Bear in mind, to befriend is the opposite of domesticate or dominate. It is to view our avian dinosaur companions with an equal measure of appreciation and awe.
Hi Perry, definitely feel the appreciation and awe. 💕
Cohabit, Share, Live Together, Co-operate with our avian friends. You can't really tame or domesticate a bird. Humans only think they can, but it is an idea birthed from our arrogance and a misplaced sense of our place in the world.
Enjoyed this. We too live with Jackdaws as neighbours and I love them.