Corvids

[knightofalbion]

Corvids, crows in particular, are very intelligent as this article shows...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/18025926

And here is another lovely site for my fellow corvid lovers

http://www.crowsrus.co.uk

Crows, the ever watchful sentry bird of the woods. Most amazing bird. We can learn alot from observing them.

Thanks for sharing this link Knightofalbion.The corvids really are a fascinating family of birds aren't they.

I did post somewhere else on the site about a time I was walking up on the fells in the Lake District.My brother and myself were 'escorted' away from the nest site by a Raven,I'm not sure if it was the male or female.We were effectively followed at a distance,with the Raven flying between rocks until we were off the premises.Magnificent birds and huge,as big as a Buzzard.

[knightofalbion]

Yes, fascinating creatures and such characters!

And one of the defining 'sounds' of the British countryside....That unmistakeable 'caw'.

[norseman]

Corvids And Superstition
Of all birds it is probably the magpie that is most associated with superstitions. However, most superstitions regarding magpies are based around just one bird. Throughout Britain it is thought to be unlucky to see a lone magpie and there are a number of beliefs about what you should do to prevent bad luck.

In most parts of the UK it is believed that you should salute the single magpie and say “Good morning Mr Magpie. How is your lady wife today?” By acknowledging the magpie in this way you are showing him proper respect in the hope that it will not pass bad fortune on to you. You are also implying that there are two magpies, which bring joy rather than sorrow according to the popular rhyme.

In Yorkshire magpies are associated with witchcraft and you should make a sign of the cross to ward off evil. And in Scotland a single magpie seen near the window of a house is a sign of impending death, possibly because magpies are believed to carry a drop of the devil’s blood on his tongue or in another legend because he was the only bird that didn’t sing or comfort Jesus when he was crucified.

Other things you can do to prevent the bad luck a lone magpie may bring include doffing your hat, spitting three times over your shoulder or even flapping your arms like wings and cawing to imitate the magpie's missing mate.

As the well known rhyme "One for sorrow, Two for joy, Three for a girl, Four for a boy, Five for silver, Six for gold, Seven for a secret never to be told." shows it is only seeing a lone magpie that brings bad luck and groups of magpies are said to predict the future. There are many different versions of this rhyme with some counting as high as 20 birds.

Like many other birds magpies mate for life and this may be the inspiration for this rhyme. And in some parts of the world magpies are not associated with bad luck at all. In Korea a popular magpie superstition has people believing that that the magpie can foretell when they will have visitors in the future. In China it is believed that the magpie’s song will bring happiness and good luck and in some parts of China the magpie is considered a sacred bird.

Although it is not known why magpies have become associated with bad luck magpies are members of the crow family and like all crows have a reputation for liking shiny objects and have the reputation of stealing jewellery. Rossini wrote a tragicomic opera entitled La Gazza Ladra (The Thieving Magpie) about a French girl accused of theft who is tried, convicted and executed. Later the true culprit is revealed to be a magpie and in remorse the town organises an annual 'Mass Of The Magpies' to pray for the girl's soul.

Another reason for humans disliking magpies is that during breeding season they will sometimes supplement their diet of grubs, berries and carrion with eggs and baby birds. They have also been known to kill small pets such as guinea pigs. Studies have shown that magpies raiding nests have no effect on the populations of songbirds or game birds.

Raven superstitions - speakers of truth and bad omens
At Halloween time scary decorations pop up all over homes, schools, and businesses. And on those chilly autumn evenings, a raven flying to its roost high in the trees takes on an extra creepiness. As eaters of carrion, ravens have traditionally been regarded with dread and associated with death and disease. They are actually very intelligent birds that care for each other, but the knowing gleam in their eyes has only added to the superstitions attributed to them because ravens seem to look at you with evil intent or at the very least an expectation of doom.

In Norse mythology Odin held the raven to be a sacred bird. Two ravens, Hugin and Munin, attended him and flew around the world every day and reported back to Odin every night.
Irish folklore considers ravens to be the messengers of the gods. What a raven states is considered to be confirmed as truth.
In the Wales and Cornwall, folk beliefs hold that King Arthur lives on in the form of a raven and that ravens should never be killed.
Because of the strong reverence for ravens in Norse traditions, the birds often appeared on the banners of marauding Norsemen in the ninth and tenth centuries, which surely added to the fearful aspect of ravens.
To hear a raven croaking to the left of you is a bad omen.
Again in Wales, a belief existed that a blind person who was kind to a raven would be cured of blindness. The connection may have arisen because ravens will eat the eyes of the dead and supposedly gain superior powers of sight.

[knightofalbion]

Originally Posted by norseman

Corvids And Superstition
Of all birds it is probably the magpie that is most associated with superstitions. However, most superstitions regarding magpies are based around just one bird. Throughout Britain it is thought to be unlucky to see a lone magpie and there are a number of beliefs about what you should do to prevent bad luck.

In most parts of the UK it is believed that you should salute the single magpie and say “Good morning Mr Magpie. How is your lady wife today?” By acknowledging the magpie in this way you are showing him proper respect in the hope that it will not pass bad fortune on to you. You are also implying that there are two magpies, which bring joy rather than sorrow according to the popular rhyme.

In Yorkshire magpies are associated with witchcraft and you should make a sign of the cross to ward off evil. And in Scotland a single magpie seen near the window of a house is a sign of impending death, possibly because magpies are believed to carry a drop of the devil’s blood on his tongue or in another legend because he was the only bird that didn’t sing or comfort Jesus when he was crucified.

Other things you can do to prevent the bad luck a lone magpie may bring include doffing your hat, spitting three times over your shoulder or even flapping your arms like wings and cawing to imitate the magpie's missing mate.

As the well known rhyme "One for sorrow, Two for joy, Three for a girl, Four for a boy, Five for silver, Six for gold, Seven for a secret never to be told." shows it is only seeing a lone magpie that brings bad luck and groups of magpies are said to predict the future. There are many different versions of this rhyme with some counting as high as 20 birds.

Like many other birds magpies mate for life and this may be the inspiration for this rhyme. And in some parts of the world magpies are not associated with bad luck at all. In Korea a popular magpie superstition has people believing that that the magpie can foretell when they will have visitors in the future. In China it is believed that the magpie’s song will bring happiness and good luck and in some parts of China the magpie is considered a sacred bird.

Although it is not known why magpies have become associated with bad luck magpies are members of the crow family and like all crows have a reputation for liking shiny objects and have the reputation of stealing jewellery. Rossini wrote a tragicomic opera entitled La Gazza Ladra (The Thieving Magpie) about a French girl accused of theft who is tried, convicted and executed. Later the true culprit is revealed to be a magpie and in remorse the town organises an annual 'Mass Of The Magpies' to pray for the girl's soul.

Another reason for humans disliking magpies is that during breeding season they will sometimes supplement their diet of grubs, berries and carrion with eggs and baby birds. They have also been known to kill small pets such as guinea pigs. Studies have shown that magpies raiding nests have no effect on the populations of songbirds or game birds.

Raven superstitions - speakers of truth and bad omens
At Halloween time scary decorations pop up all over homes, schools, and businesses. And on those chilly autumn evenings, a raven flying to its roost high in the trees takes on an extra creepiness. As eaters of carrion, ravens have traditionally been regarded with dread and associated with death and disease. They are actually very intelligent birds that care for each other, but the knowing gleam in their eyes has only added to the superstitions attributed to them because ravens seem to look at you with evil intent or at the very least an expectation of doom.

In Norse mythology Odin held the raven to be a sacred bird. Two ravens, Hugin and Munin, attended him and flew around the world every day and reported back to Odin every night.
Irish folklore considers ravens to be the messengers of the gods. What a raven states is considered to be confirmed as truth.
In the Wales and Cornwall, folk beliefs hold that King Arthur lives on in the form of a raven and that ravens should never be killed.
Because of the strong reverence for ravens in Norse traditions, the birds often appeared on the banners of marauding Norsemen in the ninth and tenth centuries, which surely added to the fearful aspect of ravens.
To hear a raven croaking to the left of you is a bad omen.
Again in Wales, a belief existed that a blind person who was kind to a raven would be cured of blindness. The connection may have arisen because ravens will eat the eyes of the dead and supposedly gain superior powers of sight.

Fascinating stuff. Surprising how much old folklore and superstition still clings on after all this time. And indeed it is something that to a large extent still colours our view of these fine birds.

As to that other source of ill-feeling, nest robbing. We must remember that at this time the magpies, and other corvids, themselves have young ones and it can be difficult finding 'soft food' for their young to eat. Small wonder that these highly intelligent and observant birds seize a window of opportunity to detect and rob the nests of other birds. I have found that throwing them some soaked wholemeal bread is something that is readily accepted and helps to defuse aggressive and predatory behaviour.