House Crows’ nests
Posted by admin on 24 January 06, Tuesday
Contributed by - see article -
There have been a number of postings on nesting crows recently - by Angie, Tang and Eu Heng. And we have published images of their large nests. Below is a detailed account of the nests and readers can always give feedback of other nesting materials.
House Crows (Corvus splendens) build their nests firmly lodged between the branching forks of tall trees and the frond bases of tall palms. The description of a nest I am giving comes from one dislodged from a ceram palm (Rhopaloblaste ceramica) in my garden. Normally the crows recycle the materials from the old nest to construct a new one. And unless someone climbs up the tree or palm and remove a disused nest, there would be no opportunity to examine one closely.
The large, crude nest is composed of interlocking twigs, in this case coming mainly from the many mempat trees (Cratoxylum formosum) lining the road fronting my house. Together with these twigs are pieces of wires of various lengths and thickness picked up from my garden, no doubt to strengthen the nest structure.
The nest measures 40 cm x 40 cm and 30 cm deep. Sitting in the centre of this massive structure is a neat shallow cup lined with light brown plant fibres, probably palm fibres.
In the nest observed by Hung Bun Tang there were knotted lengths of thick plastic. These are the pieces attached to the infernal smoky petrol-driven machines of our wayside grass cutters, as KF Yap so aptly put it. The sweeping, circular motion of the pieces cuts off the grass blades. These plastic pieces often get detached, sometimes hitting passersby. The crows have obviously found a new use for these discarded plastic pieces.
Straycat in his blog recounts the time when clothes hangers disappeared from his backyard. The mystery was solved when a nearby House Crows’ nest was seen with hangers jutting out from the side.
House Crows do not normally reuse the old nest after one breeding session. But they reuse the nesting materials. In my two palms they would collect the materials from the old nest in one palm to build a new nest in nearby palm. This went on every three months for more than two years before they decided to move on to another area to breed.
Both parent crows help to construct the nest. Sometimes they are assisted by other crows. The breeding female usually takes care of the lining of the nest towards the end of the building session. In this respect they behave just like the American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos).
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Comment by KF
Made Wednesday, 25 of January , 2006 at 8:37 am
I believe that recycling of nest material is practised by most nest-building birds. Once I picked up a discasded nest, brought it home and stuck it near the open window. Before long the neighbourly Olive-backed Sunbirds came and removed bits and pieces from the old nest. After a period of time, the nest became wobbly and fell to the ground.
For the birds it is smart and easy picking. Everything required in one place. Birds are not stupid. They also have the ability to learn too. KF
Pingback by Bird Ecology Study Group » Things crows use as nesting materials
Made Thursday, 29 of March , 2007 at 12:04 am
[...] nests House Crows (Corvus splendens) build are crude structures made up of interlocking twigs gathered [...]
Comment by SAIKAT KUMAR DUTTA
Made Sunday, 19 of August , 2007 at 2:54 pm
I am working on Nest of Covus splendens at Kolkata,India. I am very much eager to know about the previous works on nesting trees of the same.
Thank you for your informations.
Comment by admin
Made Wednesday, 22 of August , 2007 at 10:21 pm
e-mail me at wee37@starhub.net.sg and I will try my best to supply any info you want.
Comment by Evaine
Made Tuesday, 20 of May , 2008 at 10:43 pm
Good post. You make some great points that most people do not fully understand.
“House Crows do not normally reuse the old nest after one breeding session. But they reuse the nesting materials. In my two palms they would collect the materials from the old nest in one palm to build a new nest in nearby palm. This went on every three months for more than two years before they decided to move on to another area to breed.
Both parent crows help to construct the nest. Sometimes they are assisted by other crows. The breeding female usually takes care of the lining of the nest towards the end of the building session. In this respect they behave just like the American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos).”
I like how you explained that. Very helpful. Thanks.
