At last, it looks as if I might have time to write the things I have been meaning to for ages, about the birds, Ziki in particular, and about the book, which was published yesterday. The response so far has been astonishing—and delightful. I still wish that I had a photograph of myself carrying a large cardboard box with a magpie's backend and tail sticking out of it, across the road in Banchory, heading for the bookshop where the magpie and his companion and two crows, all rather larger than life although very beautiful, are now displayed in the shop window, along with copies of 'Corvus', all, I suspect, to the severe mystification of passers-by.
This morning, Ziki the crow, whose first birthday-or rather the first anniversary of his coming to live here- we'll soon celebrate, made a couple of the odd, non-crow like sounds he does. I will have to keep watch to see what encourages him to try to vocalise-the sound of crows outside perhaps.
But at the moment, the most urgent task is to do a bit of corvid-cleaning, that constant requirement in the life of the corvid-keeper...
14 comments:
Much enjoyed hearing your book being serialized on radio 4 this morning.
In case you didn't already know, there are some really interesting findings about tool use in Caledonian crows, the only non-primates known to have this level of sophistication. See for example the entry at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Caledonian_Crow.
best wishes.
Stop press: magpies have just become the first non-mammalian species demonstrated to be capable of recognizing themselves in a mirror, a further indication of their remarkable abilities.
See the article on "Mirror self-recognition in magpies" in Psyorg at:
http://www.physorg.com/news138338728.html
How amazing! I am saving for a copy of your book. We too live with a mad-magpie among other strange residents. We seem to attract a variety of furry/feathered waifs and strays! Would love to hear tips about the mad bird if ever you had time to contact! Heidi
Dear Esther
Having bought the book and heard the book being serialised on Radio all of this week, I felt I had to thank you for such a wonderful, heartfelt insight into your family and life.
My husband and I have had similar joy, albeit it for a much shorter time span. We found a ragged, tiny brown lump at our kitchen door and this grew into a beautiful girl sparrow who shared our home until she died, very suddenly at almost 2 years old.
Just as a mother would her toddler, Spadge was a constant at our side and all that you relate concerning curiosity, she displayed endlessly. Even helping me cross stitch by assisting with needle pulling. She also had a great love of paper - this seems to be a common thread!!
Thanks again for a wonderful insight into another family home where sharing your space with feathered friends is not unusual.
Sparrowlady
We have had a crippled flightless Grey crow for 5 years now in a very large cage. My wife and he play games together, 'tug the stick' 'hide the stone' and he loves to have his beak stroked. When on holidays our son feeds him, but when we came back recently after two weeks away (although fed he hadnt had much company)..his/her reaction on seeing my wife was extraordinary he screamed and squirmed into the ground and demanded to be stroked all over for about an hour, it was heartbreaking to see how emotionally distraught he was. Now we are wondering if we will ever take another holiday!!
I have a lengthy article on past and current experience with rooks ravens jackdaws and of course Grey crows (I think most readers would enjoy the obs about birds playing games!)
This article can be accessed by googling www.nireland.humanists.net or just key in humani Scroll down past current magazine to archived articles and you will come to Birdman of Bray by Dick Spicer click and the article will download ..slowly it takes about 5 mins....Would be interested in any comments especially on the crow/ gull game....
Just wanted to say I've really enjoyed listening to the Radio 4 serialisation and have ordered your book today.
I share my life with several rescued corvids (rooks, crows and a jackdaw) and I fully identified with many of your observations. There's never a dull moment with crows in the house!
Alcatraz, we also have a 5 year old flightless crow (ours with one leg) ... but she comes away on holiday with us. As does the jackdaw.
There is a friendly forum for people like us - the Crow Group, which can be found at http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/crows/. That is where I learnt of the serialisation. New members and their crows are always welcome. I'm sure they would love to hear more about Chicken!
M
I am also a member of the Yahoo group, and my partner and I share our house with Pie, our 1 year old magpie. We have also adopted the resident crow (Louis) at the local wildlife hospital and hand-reared a number of young corvids for release over the past year.
I enjoyed the book so much, especially the parallels between Spike and Pie. Thankfully Pie hasn't learned to booby-trap cupboards (yet..!), but so many of Spike's other habits and mannerisms rang true with me. The stashing, the lack of obedience to parental discipline (the word "NO!" has long since lost any real power!), the intelligent lengthy gazes into your eyes.
I'm sorry you lost Spike so relatively young, but thank you so much for sharing his life, and Chicken's, with us!
I read the extract in the Telegraph and loved it. Then heard Book of the Week and loved it more. Now I have my own copy and enjoying reading Corvus so so much. Thank-you. While I read I keep looking at a painting I have by Nigel Cox called The Morrigan. It is of a crow and I have been surprised how many visitors wonder at my buying it. Reading Corvus i begin to understand.
Dear Esther
I was bewitched when Corvus was serialised on Radio 4 (having always had a soft spot for birds, especially magpies), and have just finished reading the book. Now I feel bereft; no Chicken, no Ziki, and certainly no Spike, whose untimely passing made me weep. How is Chicken? I look at Corvids differently now, in the park and in the street; when they swoop and cackle into their evening roosts. I want to sidle up to one and say " I know you!", wishing it were true.
Thanks also for your beautiful use of language. If I didn't live at the other end of the country, I'd be tempted to pass by and say hello to the birds....!
Hello!
Today I heard about your book "Corvus".
I will buy it and tell you what iam thinking about it. But what i know right now is, that it will be very interesting for me.
Have a look at my web. Sorry it is only in german, but i think my pictures speak to you!
Kind regards
Chris Falk
http://www.corvus-monedula.com
it seemed only fair to share this book so I am, see http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/20/6398047/1
for details, it should travel well once it becomes more universally well known.
Best wishes with the next book.
I have just finished reading Corvus and really loved it - thank you so much for writing it! I've always liked crows and thought they were cheeky and intelligent creatures. In the past few days I've taken M&S dried fruit and nuts to Hyde Park and fed some magpies and two crows with that, and this morning I went to West Ham Park and fed one magpie and a family of crows. The young crow still wants its parents to feed it even though it is easily large enough to feed itself. I think I have a new habit and look forward to someday becoming "the old lady who feeds crows". Hello to Ziki and Chicken!
Dear Esther,
I just finished your wonderful book, Corvus. I too keep an unreleasable crow, and can so relate to so many of your descriptions and stories. I'm also a member of the Yahoogroup and recognize M and Maisie.
I live in the US, and hearing about Rooks makes me want to visit the UK. Some day!
Dana
p.s.-love the 'Rat Room'
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