Nature’s mimics

I received an email recently from a reader of this column who encountered a bird that sounded like a woodpecker. A closer look revealed that it was actually a crow. Crows are part of a family of birds that are considered mimics and includes jays, ravens, magpies and others. Crows are fascinating to watch and very smart. This group is considered the most intelligent among birds. The old adage about the “wise old owl” being “wise” is actually not true. Because their eyes take up so much room in their heads, owls have relatively small brains.Crows and ravens, on the other hand, are quite intelligent. The raven and crow we have here at the Audubon Center are fascinating to observe. For example, we have watched as Princess the Crow fashions tools out of sticks that are just the right shape to retrieve a food item that has fallen out of reach. But what is most interesting is her ability to mimic sounds. She is in an enclosure next to a saw-whet owl that makes a series of whistles similar to a file sharpening a big saw (hence the name saw-whet). Princess has accomplished this sound quite nicely. She also likes to reproduce the sound of children as they enter our exhibit room for a program. Her “wow” has become her signature sound as has her mocking response to people who stand outside her window and proclaim, “Caw, caw, caw!”Ravens also have the ability to make a number of different sounds. Their vocabulary even before mimicking is quite varied from the deep throaty “quock” to dry “clucks” to various whistles. Blue jays are also notorious for their mimics and many a birder has been tricked by their very convincing copy of a red-tailed hawk call.As spring creeps in slowly, nature’s sounds will be ramping up. I look forward to the relaxing sound of spring peepers and the symphony of birdcalls created by our wood warblers upon their return from warmer climates. This is a great time to observe and care for wildlife.It is always heartening for me to see so many people interested and concerned about wildlife. This is exemplified by the emails I get describing sightings and asking questions — keep them coming!This concern is also demonstrated by the number of people who take the time to call the Audubon Center (and other wildlife rehabilitators) about injured and orphaned wildlife and by the number of volunteers who help us with animal care on a regular basis. Without this willingness to help wildlife, releases of successfully rehabilitated animals such as this week’s release of two red-tailed hawks and a golden eagle would not be possible. Scott Heth is the director of Audubon Sharon and can be reached at sheth@audubon.org, (subject line: Nature Notes).