While down at the beach checking out the shorebirds, I happened to catch an odd sort of interaction between several crows. I was able to get three different ~1minute video clips and posted to youtube the one with the best light and sound, but the behavior in all three was essentially the same. The quiet mrow-ow sorts of sounds that occasionally are heard come from the crows, while the chittering is from the flock of shorebirds behind me. (Incidentally, I’ve been noticing that meowing call a lot more lately than I remember from before. Probably the most likely explanation is that I didn’t pay enough attention previously, but sometimes I wonder if they’re using it more than they used to.)

I have not seen anything quite like this, and have no idea what is going on here, but pretty much all the crows in the immediate vicinity seemed to be participating at some point (though they not all got involved in every dip). It sometimes seemed like they might be pairing off, other times maybe several were facing one in the middle. A couple of times I had the impression one bird might be leading things, but I can’t tell for sure.

While I do not know what’s going on for the crows, it’s fun to imagine that it’s some sort of social dance and/or ceremonial encounter.

I would be interested to hear if anyone else has observed this behavior (and in what context) and/or thoughts on what it might mean to/for the crows.

While along Crescent Harbor with Connor and Rowan recently, I noticed a few crows calling and flying across from Lincoln Street (near the Baranof Intersection) toward the Centennial Building. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but as we rounded the corner and headed toward the shelter, I became aware of a group of crows calling in a hemlock tree beside the sidewalk where the ramp comes up from the lightering float. I have noticed crows mobbing raptors in the past (though generally in flight), and I though perhaps something was there. However, as we approached, I noticed something lying on the ground – a dead crow.

I’ve heard of raven or crow “funerals” before – usually described as a group of actively calling birds gathered near a dead individual. (I even recall one story where someone said they observed living birds pulling one that had been killed by a car off to the side of the road but not eating it.) Of course it’s hard to say what’s really going on in the minds of the birds, but it is also easy to imagine that they are mourning the premature passing of a friend or relative.

As we approached the dead crow, the most of the birds in the tree flew off toward the boats in the harbor. Finally, there was just one bird on one of the lower branches looking down on the lifeless bird (see picture at top of post). There were some streaks of blood on the sidewalk, but we saw no obvious open wound when Connor turned it over to look. My best guess is the bird was struck by a vehicle, was able to flutter to the sidewalk, but suffered massive internal injuries that resulted in it dying relatively quickly. I think the blood probably came out of its mouth and I wonder if it struggled to walk around a little bit in its last moments, or if other crows drug it around a bit, perhaps trying to revive it (though the latter seems less likely, since it didn’t appear that the crows were inclined to get right next to it).

After a few moments of observation and reflection, we continued on our way. After we had gone a short distance, I noticed crows were flying back. They were cawing as they came, and it seemed that some were coming from a fair distance. Most landed in the tree above the sidewalk (see photo below), but a couple landed near the deceased and approached within a few feet – though they did seem wary in doing so. We did not have time to stay long, so I am not sure how long they stayed – but a couple of hours later on our return home, the dead crow was still in the same place, but there were no others around.

Three of five Harbor Seals observed near shore on 1 October 2007 at Totem Park.

Back on the first of October, I mentioned seeing interesting Harbor Seal behavior while at Totem Park.

The photo above shows three of the 5 seals I saw in the same confined area while at the park that day. Though it is not possible to tell from the photo directly, the water they are in is no more than 10 feet deep, and probably closer to 5 or 6 feet. One of the seals is shown holding its nose pointed up out of the water and into the wind. At various times at least three of them did this, and that is what caught my attention.

After an experience in Summer 2006 where seals unexpectedly climbed up rocky islets and the later realization that it was due to Killer Whales in the area, I have tried to keep in mind that, as prey of rather effective hunters, seals must be quite wary, lest they become lunch in a possibly lingering and presumably painful fashion. So that is what came to mind as I observed behavior that very much reminded me of other terrestrial mammals testing the breeze with their nose. In the days that followed, I heard of at least two different reports that Killer Whales had been seen near town over the same time period. Though the sightings I heard about were not in Eastern Channel or closer to the park, the Killer Whales in local waters range widely, often entirely out of Sitka Sound, so it would not be surprising at all for them to be move several miles over the course of hours and days.

An important question that needs to be considered is whether seals even have a decent sense of smell. If not, then it would seem quite unlikely that they were smelling the breeze. Though hardly authoritative, a quick Google search turned up several sites that said Harbor Seals do have a very good sense of smell. This was typically mentioned in the context of a mother’s ability to smell her pup, but I can’t imagine the sense of smell would be so specialized as to only apply in this context.

Finally, there is also a question of whether or not Killer Whales give off an odor that the seals could identify on the breeze. I have never been near Killer Whales when they are breathing, so I do not for sure. It seems fairly likely that they do, however. Humpback Whales certainly do and it’s not clear to me why they would by Killer Whales would not. Perhaps someone who has had close encounters with Killer Whales can leave a comment about their breath.

While interesting, none of this really proves in any way that the seals I saw were sniffing out Killer Whales. Certainly they hang out in the shallows fairly often. I do not remember seeing them stick their noses up before, but then there are lots of things I miss. Still, the evidence seems suggestive to me, and I will certainly keep my eyes open for Killer Whales if I ever see seals acting like this again.

Pied-billed Grebe photographed on Swan Lake 25 October 2007.

Yesterday when I stopped by Swan Lake, I did not see the Pied-billed Grebe I had first observed two days ago. As my photos from the first time I saw it were not exceptional, I thought it might be nice to look for the grebe again today and possibly try for some better photos.

When I first arrived, I scanned the lake a couple of times, with and without binoculars, but did not see the grebe anywhere. It was a cool, but pleasant afternoon, so I sat down on one of the benches to wait and see. As I periodically glanced around, I happened to catch the ripples created by a diving bird right in front of the vegetation off the end of the peninsula. Since I had not seen the grebe, I assumed a scaup had come in close, as I had seen them do this before. However, when the bird popped back up again, I saw it was the grebe. I was a little puzzled, as I had not seen the grebe, despite looking for it, and I could not figure out how it could have moved in from far off without me seeing it.

Pied-billed Grebe photographed on Swan Lake 25 October 2007.

Pied-billed Grebe photographed on Swan Lake 25 October 2007.

I’ll briefly interrupt the narrative here for a demonstration of just how effectively this Pied-billed Grebe is at disappearing. Click on the thumbnails below to test your ability to find the grebe.

Relatively easy

Pied-billed Grebe photographed on Swan Lake 25 October 2007.

Not so easy.

Pied-billed Grebe photographed on Swan Lake 25 October 2007.

Pied-billed Grebe photographed on Swan Lake 25 October 2007.

Those photos were comparable to what it was like looking without binoculars. With binoculars it was quite a bit easier to find the bird (at least when I knew where it was to start with). Here are crops of the last two photos above.

Pied-billed Grebe photographed on Swan Lake 25 October 2007.

Pied-billed Grebe photographed on Swan Lake 25 October 2007.

Note the main difference is in the field of focus. Part of the problem with finding the grebe is the eye tends to focus on the vegetation rather than behind it.

Pied-billed Grebe and American Coot photographed on Swan Lake 25 October 2007.

As the grebe made its final approach toward the moose, an American Coot followed right on its tailfeathers. The coots like the same hangout, and apparently this one was not thrilled with the interloping grebe. They had some words which, in the common language of these two species, seemed to consist of swimming around each other like wary fighters and making an occasional lunge with the bill to nip at ones opponent. Although it is not a particularly large bird, the coot had a distinct size advantage over the grebe. The grebe seemed to realize this, so it backed down and let the coot take its position. At least that’s what I thought at first. Moments after the coot had relaxed and turned away from the grebe, the grebe struck back with a pretty good nip at the flanks of the coot. This got the coot moving, and as the birds seemed to be getting worked up again, the second coot came in, since apparently these coots have each others backs.

American Coots photographed on Swan Lake 25 October 2007.

The grebe did not stand much chance in a direct confrontation with both coots, each of which was a larger bird. Surely this time the grebe would accept that the coots ruled this roost. Pied-billed Grebes don’t think like I do, however. At least this one doesn’t. It only took a few seconds and the grebe saw its opening. The coots had let their guard down, and the grebe struck with a pretty fierce goosing of the nearest coot. As the stricken coot went scurrying across the water, the grebe turned and went after the second coot with no less aggression. This sneak attack was too much for the coots and they decided to retreat, swimming out toward the open water and leaving the moose hideout to the grebe.

Pied-billed Grebe and American Coot photographed on Swan Lake 25 October 2007.

I actually had to laugh at the grebe’s aggressive, and sometimes unprovoked, actions toward the other birds. The Birds of North American on-line account of Pied-billed Grebe behavior suggests that these birds are very territorial, especially toward other grebes, but they also have been known to attack many other waterbird species including Canada Goose(!?) and American Coot. The account suggests that paired birds, especially males, are aggressive even during winter, though not as much as during breeding season. As far as I have seen, there is only one grebe on Swan Lake, and I would think whatever territory it might have is a long way from here. In any case, this seems to be one ornery bird.