FEATURED ANIMAL: CROW and RAVEN
Below you will find information about crows and ravens. There are important assignments, a contest, fun links to do crow projects and learn more about this species, and Q&A's.
CROWS AND RAVENS
HUMANE EDUCATION LESSON PLANS
FOR TEACHERS AND HOME SCHOOLING
1. Crows and Ravens are in the Corvid family. Other Corvids are the Blue Jay, Mynah Bird and Starling.
2. Crows and Ravens are birds, which means they lay eggs and hatch to produce their young. Once the babies get bigger, they live with their family for years to help take care of future siblings.
3. Diet: They eat many different things. They are considered scavengers. That means they will eat Carrion (dead animals). It's another one of their special adaptations. They also eat bugs. snakes, eggs, mice, and some crops such as corn.
4. Crows and Ravens are diurnal, which menas that they are awake during the day.
5. These birds have many predators. Predators are other animals who hunt them. Crow and Raven predators are Owls, Coyotes, and people.
6. Why do people hunt Crows and Ravens? Some people think that they are bad animals. They don't understand that they are helpful to us by eating bugs and mice. Also, some people think that it is alright to shoot crows and ravens for fun. Do you think that anyone should hurt an animal or another person just because they think they are a good target? We don't!
Fun Facts About Crows and Ravens
Fun Fact #1
Blue jays, crows and ravens are the smartest in the bird family, although the raven is the smartest of the corvid family.
There are two main species of Crows, the large common crow found across the country and the smaller fish crow found in the Southeast. The Common Crow is a big black-colored bird approximately 17 to 20 inches long with a strong stout build and a compressed bill. The Fishing Crow is a smaller darker version of the Common Crow.
Fun Fact #2
Crows and Ravens have a varied and evolved language. They can mimic the sounds made by other animals, and they learn to associate noises with events, especially with the distribution of food. They are related to the mynah bird, a favorite of the talking birds.
Fun Fact #3
Crows mate for life. Paired male and female crows share in the incubation of four to six eggs which hatch in eighteen days. Young first fly when they are about one month old. The young stay with the family unit for up to five years and help the parents raise siblings by bringing them food and guarding the nest.
Fun Fact #4
Crows build their nests in woods or isolated trees at least sixty feet above ground. Nests are solidly built of branches and twigs, and are lined with bark, plant fibers, mosses, twine, and other found materials.
Ravens live in coniferous forests and rocky coasts; in the West also in deserts and arid mountains. In most of its range, the Common Raven is common only in wilderness areas. Despite its large size and demonstrated intelligence, it is very sensitive to human persecution and was long ago driven out of settled areas by shooting and poisoning. Nesting - 4 to 7 dull green eggs, spotted with brown, in a large mass of sticks containing a cup lined with fur, moss, and lichens, and placed on a cliff or in the top of a conifer.
Fun Fact #5
Crows and Ravens are the most social of all birds and the flock is in constant communication making hunting or capture of the bird very difficult.
Fun Fact #6
Crows and Ravens show tool-making and tool-using behavior. They are considered more competent tool users than chimpanzees.
Crow and Raven Links
