Corvid vs. Corvid - Crow and Scrub Jay Battle for Bragging Rights

By Mel Carriere

There are two worlds that human beings live in, two worlds that are superimposed upon one another, or perhaps two layered worlds would be a better way to put it.  The top layer consists of the rather illusory technology-dominated society that Homo sapiens inhabits, and the other world is the "real" world dominated by living and competing organisms that struggle to survive.  

Sometimes humanity changes layers involuntarily, like when there is a major natural disaster or a war, or perhaps a zombie apocalypse, and in these cases the electrical grid, telephone systems, and all creature comforts disappear.  In such circumstances we humans revert back to our natural state and conduct ourselves according to the dictates of our rapacious animal nature, because we are no longer equipped to live in the layer that is subject to the cruel, capricious, merciless whims of nature.  At other times we willingly forsake the illusion of this technological "matrix" layer, eat the red pill and go off the grid because we choose to.  In these voluntary cases living in the natural layer can be peaceful, contemplative, and rewarding.

Then there are other times when we willingly oscillate back and forth between layers, or even exist in both at once.  When we make ourselves aware that both layers are superimposed upon one another the layering really ceases to exist and we can enjoy the comforts of civilization while at the same time appreciating the natural world.  Such happens to me when I am delivering the mail.  While keeping one eye on my scanner and the bar codes on the packages and the clock on my phone to make sure I am on time, with the other eye and with both ears I try to stay tuned to the world of birds around me.

The birds that inhabit the neighborhoods I deliver to have little, if any, technology to speak of.  They live completely in that separate, off the grid world where survival is a daily battle and one misstep or miscalculation means either death or reproductive failure.  

For example, I witnessed such a struggle today when a flash of brilliant blue drew a swoosh across my field of vision, which made me look up from the mail to see a Scrub Jay chasing a Crow out of its territory.  The Jay's harsh, non musical, raspy complaints were enough to indicate its severe displeasure.  After the suddenly meek, contrite, non threatening Crow had been driven back a safe distance the Scrub Jay went back into the thick foliage of a tree that I assume was in close proximity to its nest.

Earlier I had seen this same Crow loitering around this tree, perching itself upon a rooftop from where it kept tabs on the goings on at chez Scrub Jay.  I think it was waiting for the adults to disappear so it could trespass into the living room of its Corvidae cousin and help itself to an omelette, kind of like when your trashy trailer park cousins show up unannounced and raid your fridge, except that they are hopefully not eating your future children. 

The Jay was in no mood for hospitality and the Crow was not hungry enough to press the issue seriously.  I have noticed that Crows in particular are very economical in terms of the energy they expend feeding themselves.  The Crow was significantly larger than the Jay and could have kicked its butt in a fair fight, but it chose to look for easier pickings elsewhere.  "Pick your battles" seems to be the wise motto there in the natural layer.  Unlike Homo sapiens here in the matrix layer, Crows do not indiscriminately bomb their enemies for effect, leaving behind a mass of blood and dead bodies with nothing to show for it.

Birds by Mel is powered for flight by copious amounts of shade grown, warbler friendly coffee, which unfortunately is very expensive.   I have nothing to do with ad selection here, but unless you find them completely annoying or offensive I would appreciate if you investigated what my sponsors have to say.

Scrub Jay picture is from:  "Western Scrub Jay holding an Acorn at Waterfront Park in Portland, OR" by Original uploader was Msulis at en.wikipedia - Transferred from en.wikipedia; transferred to Commons by User:Common Good using CommonsHelper.. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Western_Scrub_Jay_holding_an_Acorn_at_Waterfront_Park_in_Portland,_OR.JPG#/media/File:Western_Scrub_Jay_holding_an_Acorn_at_Waterfront_Park_in_Portland,_OR.JPG