Ravens leaving gifts?

[intrepidity]

I'm not a "bird-watcher" like most of you in this group probably are, but there is a raven couple that lives in our trees, and the neighbors and I frequently leave them food and treats. They also know to vocally announce themselves to us, as in, hey! where's my nuts!

Anyway, so recently while walking a path that I use multiple times per day for walking my dog--a path that only my neighbors and I use--I noticed a shiny object directly mid-path. Took it home and cleaned it up, and it's a radio knob from a 1950s Ford truck. I'm thinking, that's weird. Where did this come from?

The part of the path where this was found is very narrow, single person wide, with dense brush on either side. And it is the only path to get to the main trail for walking.

Anyway, a few weeks later, at the same exact spot, I see a piece of broken glass. Now, I'm the type who is always looking at the ground while I walk my dog, actively looking for glass or other such objects that I wouldn't want my dog to step on. So I *know* that path is glass-free.

So where did this come from? As I picked it up, I noticed the Raven couple in a nearby tree watching me. Also, they frequent a tree (these are all tall conifers, mostly redwoods) that is adjacent to the path. After I picked the glass up, and looked up at them and greeted them, they flew away.

And then I started thinking: wait, did *they* leave those things there for us to find? (Or, more sinister, were they hoping my dog stepped on the broken glass? He barks at them a lot).

Anyone know if this is a *thing* with Ravens?

(BTW, their names are Edgar and Lenore)

[RainCaster]

1. I think they like you

[Goonch]

2. ;-{)🖖‍

[intrepidity]

6. LOL I actually own one of those teapots nt

[mercuryblues]

3. Yes birds do, not just ravens.

[intrepidity]

4. I mean, I know *they* like shiny things

I put a sparkly sequined bell out for them, next to where I leave them nuts. They never took it away though.

I know cats like bringing home gifts.

I didn't know if birds actually give away shiny things as gifts.

I still don't know for certain that this is what happened.

Any tests or experiments I could conduct to verify?

My dog is a barrier to me having more interaction with them, though.

[mercuryblues]

8. It is a thank you for the nuts.

You might see more "gifts" They might not all be shiney objects.

[hedda_foil]

5. This is definitely a thing with ravens.

[Phoenix61]

7. They not only leave gifts they recognize

human faces.
https://qz.com/1000035/when-you-cross-a-raven-the-bird-will-hold-a-grudge/

[intrepidity]

9. ... and they know which car you drive

Man, go a few days without leaving treats, and my car needs a wash, especially the door handles and windshield.

Their aim is good, too.

[yonder]

10. I've tons of respect for Corvids - smrt, smart, SMART.

I'd say you're lucky to have a couple as friends.

[Wicked Blue]

11. About 20 years ago I rescued a crow from a hawk

There was a tremendous commotion on the back patio. When I checked, I found a dozen or more crows screaming at a young hawk that was holding onto a live crow. The hawk must have bumped into something, probably the patio doors, because it seemed dazed.

I carefully removed the crow from its grip, set it down and shooed away the hawk. It was pursued by many furious crows. I'm not sure what the rest of the crows did with the released captive. It didn't seem badly hurt, so maybe they helped it get home, wherever that was.

After that, I noticed that crows were visiting the back yard and dropping off little gifts like bottle caps, bits of foil and so on. This went on for about 5 years and then gradually stopped.

[femmedem]

12. That's wonderful!

Thanks for sharing; it's just so sweet.

[femmedem]

13. Absolutely they are thanking you for the food. Check out this article:

https://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/2019/02/15/gifts-from-crows/

[intrepidity]

14. Whoa...

From a link within that article:

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31604026