Feeding Crows and its effects on other species (1 Viewer)

[Natalie]

For a couple years now I had a good system working out where I feed the finches and sparrows in the front yard and the Corvids on the back deck. This year, however, the crows must have told all their friends across town about the food I put out, because there's been a sharp increase in their numbers (it went from being one main pair and their offspring to as many as 20 individuals at any given time)... I see crows flying in from literally miles and miles away to come eat here. This year I've also noticed a decrease in finches and sparrows - whereas last year there were probably about 150-200+ finches near my yard and it was almost deafening to go out there, this year there are usually only 20-40 at any given moment, and the species diversity has decreased as well (I haven't seen any Pine Siskins for a couple months).

Does it sound like the increase in crow numbers might be contributing to this? I know they are opportunists and will eat eggs and young of other species if given half a chance, but does that really have a large effect on finch and sparrow populations? The tree where I hang my feeders was getting a bit overgrown, so I cut off some branches today and I think that might help lure more birds in. Also, the Northern Flickers that lived near my house during the fall/winter seem to have disappeared, and as far as I could tell only one of them was a Red-shafted/Yellow-shafted intergrade from Canada so I don't know why the others would have left, besides the increase in crows.

My house looks like the one in The Birds...

 

[ChrisKten]

I don't know if this helps but I can tell you how feeding Crows has affected the birds in my garden.

I have a very small (about 20 feet by 20 feet) garden. I feed 4 Crows, 5 Jays, and 3 Magpies. The smaller birds (Sparrows, Starlings, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Goldcrest, Chaffinches, Robins, Dunnock) just get out of the way when any of the Corvids visit (especially for the Magpies), then return when they've gone. Some smaller birds will feed happily in the tree while a Crow is on the fence 15 feet away.

The numbers of small birds hasn't declined over the last few years even though the Crows visit more frequently than they first did.

I would guess that if many Crows were in the garden often, that this would reduce the frequency of visits by smaller birds.

EDIT: I should add that from your picture it looks like you have your own country, so my situation may be irrelevant. |=)|

 

[Natalie]

I don't know if this helps but I can tell you how feeding Crows has affected the birds in my garden.

I have a very small (about 20 feet by 20 feet) garden. I feed 4 Crows, 5 Jays, and 3 Magpies. The smaller birds (Sparrows, Starlings, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Goldcrest, Chaffinches, Robins, Dunnock) just get out of the way when any of the Corvids visit (especially for the Magpies), then return when they've gone. Some smaller birds will feed happily in the tree while a Crow is on the fence 15 feet away.

The numbers of small birds hasn't declined over the last few years even though the Crows visit more frequently than they first did.

I would guess that if many Crows were in the garden often, that this would reduce the frequency of visits by smaller birds.

EDIT: I should add that from your picture it looks like you have your own country, so my situation may be irrelevant. |=)|

Thanks for the quick reply! Haha, the house is on a hill, so that's how I'm able to literally see that many of the crows eating here are not the residents but other families flying in from many miles away.

Before that started happening my situation was much like yours... There were about five or six crows (the pair and their children) that I would feed, and they would keep to themselves and my tube feeders in the front would be buzzing with activity. But if a crow or jay shows up in the yard, the little birds disappear. Occasionally the crows try to eat at the tube feeders, but they've always done that and I wouldn't say the rate of that happening has increased despite the fact that there are more crows now.

I don't really see the crows and finches/sparrows interact in my yard, so that's why I wondering if just the fact that there are more crows per acre now can influence the finch/sparrow populations, given that the food and water availability has remained constant.

 

[ChrisKten]

I suppose they will compete for some resources, but some food, like insects and spiders, may not be eaten by the Crows, but would be by some smaller birds.

Because of the size of the area I can't really say what effect the Crows might have. Maybe you could talk to your local Forestry Department (is that what it's called?) to see if they have noticed any changes locally. Or talk to your neighbours (if you have any|=)|).

 

[Natalie]

Thanks! I got an email today talking about decreases in bird populations in my county today, but it turns out it really only involves cormorants and other seabirds. I've been feeding the crows less these past few days to see if that helps.

 

[ChrisKten]

Thanks! I got an email today talking about decreases in bird populations in my county today, but it turns out it really only involves cormorants and other seabirds. I've been feeding the crows less these past few days to see if that helps.

Keep us updated on how it goes. I'd be interested to know if the smaller birds reappear.

 

[Natalie]

So far it seems to be helping. |=)|

Two species that have been scarce this spring (Purple Finches and American Goldfinches) are now becoming more plentiful, and three species that I hadn't seen in at least a couple of months have reappeared - Pine Siskins, Warbling Vireos, and Chestnut-backed Chickadees.

I'm still hoping I'll get some wood-warblers in my yard this year, the last time I saw one here was a Townsend's Warbler back in November/December.

 

[ChrisKten]

So far it seems to be helping. |=)|

Two species that have been scarce this spring (Purple Finches and American Goldfinches) are now becoming more plentiful, and three species that I hadn't seen in at least a couple of months have reappeared - Pine Siskins, Warbling Vireos, and Chestnut-backed Chickadees.

I'm still hoping I'll get some wood-warblers in my yard this year, the last time I saw one here was a Townsend's Warbler back in November/December.

That is good news, let's hope it continues.