Nicole sent me another story, this one from last spring. It seems that an Israeli man made the mistake of moving a baby crow that had fallen from its nest. This made the chick’s mother angry, and she’s been terrorizing him ever since:
Badash’s nightmare began after a crow’s chick fell out of its nest into his backyard last week. The young bird’s loud cries forced Badash to pick it up and carry it outside his garden, a move that proved to be a big mistake.
Ever since that day a crow — probably the chick’s mother — began attacking Badash on a daily basis. “When I came back home on Independence Day, the crow began attacking me… several days later I went outside the house and was assaulted again. I felt I was in danger. I tried to run and then fell and injured myself. Whenever I wanted to leave the house, the crow would strike me. I was forced to be on the run constantly,” Badash related.
“This is a large and scary bird. Even when I’m running it flies faster and catches up with me. Fortunately it does not move against my wife and children and only attacks me,” he added.
In the meantime, Badash’s life has become unbearable. He said that he is unable to sit in his garden as the crow lurks there waiting to attack. “Whenever I go out of the house I put on a helmet and hold a parasol over my head, and only in this way I’m protected,” he explained.
Badash approached the Ramat Hasharon municipality several times in order to get their help, but he claimed no one there took him seriously. However, the town’s Mayor Itzik Ruchberger eventually consented to visit Badash’s house and look into the situation himself.
The mayor, who confirmed he had witnessed the crow attacking Badash, said that according to the city’s veterinarians “this is a common phenomenon that lasts for a week or two and then disappears. As the crow is a protected animal the veterinarians cannot hurt it, and so the only solution is to wait for the problem to resolve itself.”
There are several interesting elements to this story:
- The crow is a protected animal in Israel. Is this for religious reasons? Or are they just not as plentiful as here in the Pacific Northwest?
- This particular crow is holding a grudge. It’s remembering its anger and acting upon it repeatedly.
- But it’s not attacking people indiscriminately; it’s attacking the person against whom it holds the grudge.
- The crow’s behavior has been witnessed by multiple people.
I’ve seen the crows in our yard. I wouldn’t want to mess with them. They’re big and nasty. (Maybe nasty is the wrong word: I love crows, and am pleased to have them around. I just wouldn’t want to get in a fight with one.)
[Ynetnews: Israeli man: I'm being stalked by a crow]
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
It might be incorrect to say that the crow is angry and attacking out of anger. If it is in fact a parent of the chick it could see Badash as a source of danger and is only trying to drive him away from the nest.
I read this book once written by a woman who rescued crows. I remember her mentioning that crows can be vindictive. Apparently she had to get rid of one of her crows because it’d taken to attacking one of her kids (I think the kid did something to the crow), and she knew the crow would never forgive the kid.
I thought I was rescuing a baby crow last week that was in the middle of our driveway. I moved it away from harm and then eventually put it in an open basket so that it’s parent’s could see it. My husband and daughter fed it while I was away for two days and said that it got stronger and more lively. When I returned 2 days later the baby crow was gone. We don’t know if the parents were able to get it back up in the nest or if another animal got it.
Now, whenever I go outside to be in the garden and take care of the plants, the crows dive down at me. I eventually go inside because it is scary and unpleasant. The crows do not attack my husband or child. Just me. At first I thought I was imagining, but now I am certain that they are mad or being vindictive. I hope it stops soon so I can enjoy being outside again.
I was walking down the street completely unsespecting, when a crow dove at and smashed into my head. It hit me so hard I actually thought I was being attacked by a person because he also came from behind me. I was not anywhere near a nest nor did I see a chick or move one or anything. I was simply walking and he attacked. After the first blow to the head he flew atop a hydro pole sat for a moment and came back for more. I’m blown away! This is by far the most creepy things that has ever happened to me.
Try living in Canberra, Australia, in the spring: take one step near the tree of a roosting magpie, and you’ll find yourself being divebombed. There are signs all over the city near known nesting sites warning people to stay away. Most cyclists also attach sunglasses to the backs of their helmets or have big flags on the back of their bikes to keep the birds away.
I was waiting around in tokyo yesterday and 2 crows followed me for hours and when i went in stores and came out they were still there diving at me. i also have to say that this is one of the creepiest things i have had happen
Hi Sally,
I am just curious. Is this over with you. ‘Cause it’s just started with me. Different country though. I am living in India. There’s this crow that has made my life tough when I think of going outside in the garden, on the balcony or the rooftop. Even when I’m inside the house, it peeps thru the open window from a distance of, say, 20 feet or so. I feel paraniod. I know it awaits me everytime I touch the door latch.
I’m thinking of getting an air-rifle, just in case.
I saw a crow attack a blue jay in mid air and killed it.
An answer to question 1: Crows are protected in the USA as well (Migratory Bird Treaty Act). You can’t hurt any wild birds.
Non-native birds like Starlings, Pigeons and European Sparrows were introduced into the country, and therefore you can pick those off if you want/need.
Hi…I am from Liverpool, England and I am really cncerned for my friend who called me at work early this morning asking or shoud i say pleading with me to laeve work and ”help” her. Her husband had left for work and no windows/entry at all was exposed and my friend Natali was woken by a bird what we think was a Crow (but her husband thinks a starling) anyway it was attacking her fiersly flying from one end of the bedroom towards her with speed and attacking aiming for her head, she managed to get the bird out of the bedroom but was afraid to leave the room untill her husband came home to get the bird out and even he coud not believe his eyes at the size and fiersness of the creature, later that day another crow/starling was in her home again with no entry from roof/outside/cellar nothing or no room that they could nest just wondered if anyone could help or advice on this weather it be how to protect or keep them away or an explanation as to why the crow would attack only my friend and not her husband earlier before he left the house?? thanks and hope someone can help with this strange attack worry…nat n ali xx
theres a crow that hangs about our garden swooping at the same cat and hopping round him in circles. its been happening for about a month now and the thing is this is the same cat that will attack ours for no reason and he’s scared of a crow (not that he shouldnt be crows can be dangerous). we’re all puzzled as to what he has done to make this particular crow hate him, there are no nests near our garden because no smart bird will nest near two houses with a total of 7 cats, the only crow nests are at the top of really tall trees farther down the street, too high for even a cat to reach. it was funny to start with but now we just feel sorry for him
I live in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and this morning ( 2hours ago) as I walking back to my office after having tea, something hit me on the back of my neck…I thought it was someone who did that. But to my surprise, I realize it was a big crow…I was walking under a tree, did not step on anything…but that was not the end of it…the crow was hovering just above my head and it dive down to attack me again and pecked me at the same place…i quickly ran to a building across the road as i saw it coming back for me again…Reminded me of alfred hitchcock’s Bird.
Really spooky
One day I was about one block away from home and this crow kept making loud noises so I imitated the sound to my gf and she laughed. However I don’t think the bird found it funny because he started diving into me , my reaction to this was to make a shhh sound moving my arms so that he would go away , but then he answer by chasing me down the street with two of his friends :/. It’s been more than month now and I don’t think they remember me anymore. Don’t mess with crows :P
All those humans “freaked” out, or “scared” hahaha… All I can say is that most fears are caused by lack of knowledge. Crows are the best smartest biirds. But I know most people see parrots, canarians, pigeons as good birds, etc… Live in fear of crows, die in fear of crows then… OR LEARN.