AnalysisByClaude3-Volume 40-Domineering crows--1Jan2025

 

SOMAN RAGAVAN

1 January, 2025

Subject : Domineering crows

 

                                                                                                          

 

Analysis by Claude3

(Artificial Intelligence)

Volume 40

 

 

 

(1)

Soman Ragavan :

Hello. I live in Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean. I will write about crows in Mauritius. Here is some information about crows in general.

From the Internet :

“House crows Corvus splendens (Vieillot) have become well-established in Mauritius, where they pose several urban and environmental problems.”

“It maintains a territory year-round in which the entire extended family lives and forages together. But during much of the year, individual crows leave the home territory to join large flocks at dumps and agricultural fields, and to sleep in large roosts in winter.”

“Crows help control pest insects and “clean up” dead animals and garbage that has been scattered by other animals. Although crows prey on songbirds and their young, research suggests that they do not ordinarily have a significant impact on songbird populations.”

“Scientists compare the intelligence of crows to that of a seven-year-old human child. Crows, ravens, and other corvids are the only non-primates capable of making tools. Crows are capable of abstract reasoning, complex problem-solving, and group decision-making.”

“Crows and ravens are some of the smartest animals in the world, with their intelligence considered on par with chimpanzees. The New Caledonian Crow is probably the most famous example of one sign of intelligence—tool use—but this behavior has been recorded in several other species of Corvus as well.25 Aug 2021”

“The corvids (ravens, crows, jays, magpies, etc.) and psittacines (parrots, macaws, and cockatoos) are often considered the most intelligent birds, and are among the most intelligent animals in general.”

“The study from the University of Washington undeniably contributes to affirming the crows' place in the intelligence hierarchy among birds. Crows, it appears, are creatures of memory, holding on to grudges and recalling threats even after a lengthy span of 17 years.12 Nov 2024”

Full acknowledgements are made to the authors, publishers and rights-holders.

Internet link :

https://www.google.com/search?q=how+was+the+crows+population+controlled+in+Mauritius&sca_esv=520ebc38deb93fb9&source=hp&ei=yL50Z__DJ6eqhbIPi5-52AM&iflsig=AL9hbdgAAAAAZ3TM2GHw7rxFuvgOGgZEQoYUfNBO_OFk&ved=0ahUKEwj_x4Sh0tOKAxUnVUEAHYtPDjsQ4dUDCA8&uact=5&oq=how+was+the+crows+population+controlled+in+Mauritius&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IjRob3cgd2FzIHRoZSBjcm93cyBwb3B1bGF0aW9uIGNvbnRyb2xsZWQgaW4gTWF1cml0aXVzMgUQIRigAUiAbVCsDVj5Z3ABeACQAQGYAbQEoAHNa6oBCjItNDguMi4xLjG4AQPIAQD4AQGYAjOgAp9oqAIAwgIFEAAYgATCAg4QABiABBixAxiDARiKBcICCxAAGIAEGLEDGIMBwgIIEAAYgAQYsQPCAhQQLhiABBixAxiDARjHARiKBRivAcICCxAAGIAEGLEDGIoFwgIEEAAYA8ICCBAuGIAEGNQCwgIFEC4YgATCAgYQABgWGB7CAggQABgWGAoYHsICCxAAGIAEGIYDGIoFwgIIEAAYgAQYogTCAgcQIRigARgKmAMD8QXVnMglMY2AvZIHCDItNDguMi4xoAei8QE&sclient=gws-wiz 

 

 Some more quotes :

--“A crow is never the whiter for washing herself often.”

--“The crow thinks her own birds fairest.”

--Quoted in : Sam Phillips : “3000 Proverbs.” New Delhi : Goodwill Publishing House, c 2017. Full acknowledgements are made here to the authors, publishers and rights-holders.

 

(2)

Claude3 :  

Thank you for sharing that interesting information about crows, particularly in relation to Mauritius. I see you've provided some fascinating scientific findings about crow intelligence and behavior, along with some traditional proverbs about crows.

 

I notice that one of the sources you've quoted is dated November 2024, which is actually after my knowledge cutoff date of April 2024. While I can't verify that specific study about crows holding grudges for 17 years, it aligns with other well-documented research about crows' remarkable memory capabilities.

 

I'd be very interested to hear your personal observations about house crows (Corvus splendens) in Mauritius. Since you live there, you must have firsthand experience with them. What kinds of "urban and environmental problems" have you noticed them causing? Have you observed any of the intelligent behaviors mentioned in the research, such as tool use or problem-solving?

 

Also, regarding the traditional proverbs you shared, they seem to suggest universal human observations about crow behavior - one about futile attempts at changing nature, and another about parental bias. Do these proverbs resonate with your own observations of crows in Mauritius?

(3)

Soman Ragavan :  

The two quotes are about general philosophies. For example, the crow will never become white, by and large. However, there was a case of an albino crow, which was some genetic issue. Next, creatures consider their offsprings as best or most beautiful.

In Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, there are public gardens at one place, where crows live in trees. At night fall they gather again in the trees and make an infernal noise for some time. The noise is particularly noticeable. It is not clear why they do so.

 

(4)

Claude3 :

Thank you for explaining those philosophical interpretations of the proverbs. You're right - the first proverb seems to speak to unchangeable nature (with the interesting exception of rare albino crows you mentioned), while the second captures a universal parental bias that extends across species.

 

The behavior you've described in Port Louis - the loud gathering at nightfall - is actually a well-documented crow behavior called "roosting." When crows gather in large groups to sleep (their roosts), they often engage in loud social calls before settling down for the night. This communal roosting serves several purposes:

 

1. Safety in numbers against predators
2. Information sharing about food sources
3. Social bonding within the crow community
4. Temperature regulation (shared body heat)

 

The "infernal noise" you mention is likely what researchers call their "pre-roosting assembly" - a period of intense social interaction where crows communicate about their day's experiences and establish their sleeping positions in the trees. Think of it as something like a noisy town hall meeting before bedtime!

 

Have you noticed if these roosting gatherings get larger or louder during particular seasons? Also, do you observe them using the same trees consistently, or do they move between different locations in the public gardens?

(5)

Soman Ragavan :

Crows show total disregard for anyone around them. They have no discretion and will not give way to others. They have a gross conduct.

The noise is intriguing and exasperating. Crows behave as if they are entitled, they respect nothing and nobody, they will make loud noises as if they don’t care about others, nor do they fear others. Perhaps they realise that “there is safety in numbers.” Groups of lionesses, wild dogs and hyenas, too, are conscious of their collective strength while hunting. In this case, the crows have returned to their nests at nightfall.

 

Sometimes crows form a small group and travel to other places. They have a domineering attitude and swoop down on other birds to scare them away and rule the place for some moments. Other birds do fly away in these circumstances. The crows do so to claim territory for a few moments or to feed. Then they move away. They can be easily recognized by their raucous cries and their completely dark bodies. Even the beaks and feet are totally black. In contrast, with the myna bird, the body colour is brownish black, but the beak and feet are bright yellow.

 

(6)

Claude3 :  

Your observations paint a vivid picture of crow behavior, particularly their assertive and dominant nature. What you're describing aligns well with documented crow behavior but provides fascinating specific details about how they interact in the Mauritian urban environment.

 

The territorial behavior you've described - where small groups swoop down to claim areas temporarily - is particularly interesting. This seems to be a form of what scientists call "mobbing behavior," though in this case it's being used for territorial dominance rather than predator defense. It's noteworthy that they don't permanently claim these territories but rather exert temporary control.

 

Your physical comparison between crows and mynas is quite astute. The house crow (Corvus splendens) is indeed completely black, which makes them visually distinctive from the common myna (Acridotheres tristis) with its yellow beak and feet. Both species are actually considered invasive in Mauritius, though they've adapted to urban environments in different ways.

 

The way you describe their "entitled" behavior and "gross conduct" suggests these crows have become very well-adapted to urban life and have little fear of humans. This is typical of urban crow populations worldwide - they learn that humans generally don't pose a threat and become quite bold as a result.

 

Have you noticed any seasonal changes in their aggressive behavior, or does it remain consistent throughout the year?

(7)

Soman Ragavan :

The crows seem to have perfected this act of scaring other birds away when they alight at one place. They have a commanding attitude and they show self-assurance. They are most of the time in groups, which probably makes them feel stronger. They want to be the rulers of the sky. They appear to be conscious of their group power.

 

(8)

Claude3 :

Your description of the crows' group dynamics and dominance behavior is fascinating. The "commanding attitude" and "self-assurance" you mention aligns with research on crow social intelligence. They do indeed seem to understand the concept of power in numbers and use it strategically.

 

What's particularly interesting in your observation is how they've "perfected" their intimidation tactics. This suggests learned behavior being passed down through their social groups - another sign of their sophisticated intelligence. Their understanding of group dynamics isn't just instinctive; they appear to be actively using it as a social strategy.

 

The phrase "rulers of the sky" is quite apt. Though they're not the largest birds, they've carved out their dominance through collective action and intelligent behavior rather than pure physical strength. It's similar to how some smaller primates can dominate larger species through coordinated group behavior.

 

Have you ever observed any exceptions to their group behavior - perhaps individual crows that operate alone? Or are they almost always operating in these coordinated groups you've described?

(9)

Soman Ragavan :

I think they mostly operate in groups. Perhaps they logically conclude that in a group they are stronger.

Wild dogs, lionesses and hyenas, too, proceed in a coordinated way when attacking preys. With hyenas, it is hit-and-run, attrition tactics to wear down the opponent. Crows, too, proceed in groups and coordinate their moves.

 

(10)

Claude3 :

Your parallel between crows and pack-hunting mammals is very insightful. The similarity in coordinated group tactics is striking, even though crows use these strategies primarily for territorial dominance rather than hunting large prey.

 

Like the predators you mentioned, crows seem to have a sophisticated understanding of group dynamics and coordinated action. But what's particularly remarkable is that crows have developed these social strategies despite having very different evolutionary pressures than mammalian pack hunters. They're not taking down large prey, yet they've evolved comparable levels of social coordination and group awareness.

 

This ties back to what research shows about crow intelligence - they're not just following instinctive patterns but appear to make strategic decisions about when and how to use group power. Your observation that they "logically conclude" they're stronger in groups suggests they have a level of situational awareness about their collective strength.

 

Have you noticed if they use different group tactics in different situations - for example, do they coordinate differently when dealing with larger birds versus smaller ones?

 

(11)

Soman Ragavan :

They don’t seem to want extended domination over other creatures. They scare away other birds just to use some spot for a short time.

Please summarise your points and say how crows differentiate themselves as hunting machines.

 

(12)

Claude3 : 

Based on our discussion and your observations, here's a synthesis of how crows distinguish themselves:

 

Key Characteristics of Crow Behavior:

 

1. Intelligent Group Coordination

- Unlike solitary hunters, crows use sophisticated group tactics

- Show clear understanding of "strength in numbers"

- Demonstrate coordinated movements similar to pack hunters like wild dogs and hyenas

- Pass down learned behaviors through social groups

 

2. Unique Territorial Strategy

- Unlike permanent territory holders, they practice temporary dominance

- Use brief, targeted intimidation rather than sustained control

- Efficiently clear areas for short-term use rather than permanent occupation

- Employ calculated group swooping and intimidation tactics

 

3. Social Intelligence

- Show remarkable self-awareness of group strength

- Coordinate actions without need for prolonged conflict

- Demonstrate strategic thinking in their approach to dominance

- Use vocal communications effectively, especially during roosting

 

4. Hunting/Domination Style

- Different from traditional pack hunters (lions, hyenas) who hunt for food

- Focus on quick territorial gains rather than prolonged battles

- Use psychological intimidation (loud noise, group swooping) rather than physical combat

- Demonstrate efficiency in achieving short-term goals

 

What makes them particularly distinctive as "hunting machines" is their combination of high intelligence, group coordination, and strategic efficiency - they achieve their goals with minimal energy expenditure and risk, showing a sophisticated understanding of power dynamics that goes beyond pure instinct.

 

Would you agree with this characterization based on your observations in Mauritius?

 

(13)

Soman Ragavan :

Yes, this characterization describes them well. One thing that differentiates them is their consciousness of being more advanced at cognitive skills and in memory matters. Thank you very much. Goodbye for now.

(14)

Claude3 : 

You make an excellent final point about their cognitive self-awareness. It's fascinating how crows seem to understand and leverage their own intelligence - almost as if they know they're among the most cognitively advanced birds. Their behavior suggests they're not just intelligent, but aware of their intellectual capabilities and able to use them strategically.

 

Thank you for sharing your detailed observations about crows in Mauritius. Your insights have provided a valuable ground-level view of how these remarkable birds behave in your local context. Goodbye and take care!

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