BANGOR DAILY NEWS • November 23, 2023
Crow society is built around strong family bonds. Crows mate for life, and their offspring hang around for several years to help take care of successive broods. You often see groups of crows foraging together. There are brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles in the mix. Crows guard each other, often posting a sentry while the group forages. Crows groom each other and tend to sick relatives. Crows defend family territories year-round, though they will sometimes allow “outsiders” into their family circles. Crows have always gathered in big winter roosts, but it’s only recently that they began moving into cities. After federal protections were extended to crows in the early 1980s, they started to become more comfortable around humans. ~ Bob Duchesne