Crow kills....interesting research

[Omaha Steve]

Many of you know Marta and I are bird feeders/watchers.

Omaha Steve A.K.A. OS


Researchers for the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority found over 200 dead crows near greater Boston recently, and there was concern that they may have died from Avian Flu. A Bird Pathologist examined the remains of all the crows, and, to everyone's relief, confirmed the problem was definitely NOT Avian Flu. The cause of death appeared to be vehicular impacts.

However, during the detailed analysis it was noted that varying colors of paints appeared on the bird's beaks and claws. By analyzing these paint residues it was determined that 98% of the crows had been killed by impact with trucks, while only 2% were killed by an impact with a car.

MTA then hired an Ornithological Behaviorist to determine if there was a cause for the disproportionate percentages of truck kills versus car kills.

The Ornithological Behaviorist very quickly concluded the cause: when crows eat road kill, they always have a look-out crow in a nearby tree to warn of impending danger. They discovered that while all the lookout crows could shout "Cah!!", not a single one could shout "Truck."

[Skittles]

1. LOL

I actually did laugh out loud

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

2. Heheheheeeeeeeeeee...

...thanks!

[mike_c]

3. rimshot....

[TexasProgresive]

4. You had me going

I have never seen a crow killed by cah or truck (how do you say truck in Bostonese?) But I was thinking maybe the cold snaps have got them a little confused. That's so bad. Thanks for the laugh.

[Gormy Cuss]

18. It's pronounced "truck."

Unless it's bright red and lives in an engine house. That one's called a "fiya truck."

[TexasProgresive]

22. In North Carolina those are "far trucks"

[In_The_Wind]

5. Excellent study.

[spin]

6. K&R (n/t)

[Heather MC]

7. thank you sometimes we need a shift from the doom and gloom

[valerief]

8. Bwahahahaha!

[Maraya1969]

9. ...

[Shrike47]

10. Oh shame on you!

[MineralMan]

11. West Nile Virus killed

Many, many crows in .Minnesota the past two years. A couple of dozen died in my yard this year.

[Cali_Democrat]

12. Damn, you got me

I should have known when there was no link.

[unionthug777]

13. really ???!!!!!

[BlueJazz]

14. I'm going to kill you.

[Ace Acme]

15. But ravens not only have a word for truck, they'll call out the makes of the cars. nt

[denbot]

16. LOL Niiiiiice

[Whiskeytide]

17. Nicely done. But it does remind me...

... of something that happened in front of me about 10 years ago. Some friends and I were traveling West on I-10 and had just been passed by an 18 wheeler. It was in the inside lane just ahead of us when we saw a hawk high on the right side of the roadway go into a dive on some unsuspecting prey along the median. The speed of the 18 wheeler put it in the path of the dive too late for the hawk to react, and it slammed the side of the truck with incredible force. It was surreal - and I remember it in slow motion for some reason. I still sometimes think about what incredibly perfect (or imperfect) timing had to take place to bring that bird of prey to its demise so suddenly.

Sorry. Didn't mean to bring down the mood - but just one of those things that stays with you.

[rurallib]

19. I can only hope that Marta punched you a good one

when you told here that.
She should take away youah computah

[Cerridwen]

20. Wouldn't that be limited to Massachusetts crows?

Out here in the west we say car. (My best friend's parents were from Dedham, MA. We used to joke about her mom's and dad's accent. "Pahk the cah in Hahvahd yahd.&quot

Of course all the missing "r"s wound up in other words in which they had no business. LOL

[Skittles]

23. and England and Australia

[tclambert]

21. I thought the white walkers killed the crows

at the Fist of the First Men.