Pets

[SERIOUSLY THOUGH*]

Folks, meet Mr Bobo the friendly crow.




He had been hanging around the neighbourhood for a week or two before I arrived here for the holidays. The grandparents said he would peck at the window and stare. He appeared to have a hurt wing.

I get to France a few days ago, and kept an eye out for him. On my second day, I turned to the window, and there he was, staring in right at me.

Before I continue, let me tell you the story that has led me to believe that this is one smart bird (like crows tend to be, from hearing stories around the Internet). My grandparents have a knife that they keep on the window sill for gardening and/or shanking passers-by. The crow appears one day, about a week before I get there, and steals their knife, flapping to the top of a tree in their garden. It keeps the knife for a while before dropping it to the ground. The next day, my grandparents wake up, look at the sill to find not only their knife, but another unknown knife. The crow had apparently decided that they needed more knives (probably for dual-wield shanking), and nicked one from someone else in the area !

Back to my first meeting with Mr Bobo the friendly crow. I open the window and he flaps away, unsure. Then I unleash my secret weapon of bread and he comes fluttering back. One wing does seem a little iffy, but he's flying ok (though from later interactions, I noted that he prefers to jump towards you rather than fly, including up stairs). So I give him some bread. He takes the bread and gives my hand a little peck. Thank you ?

He hops off with the bread and puts it near a shrub on the ground. He then proceeds to cover the bread with leaves and stones before coming back for more. It's amazing ! What a smart animal. He did this a few times, before I went outside and sat near him. He hopped towards me, no fear at all, and started pecking (it seemed playfully) at me. It didn't hurt, which is why I think he was doing it for fun.

I love it ! We have a pet crow. I have a few videos of him that I'll upload when I have the time.
I'll also keep you appraised of his adventures until I leave on the 8th of January. He came back this morning for a nibble of bread, some sunflower seeds and a few affectionate(?) pecks.

Finally, I've also put a coin on the window sill. My logic is that, just like the knife, he'll examine it and bring me back some similar coins and I'll be rich !

More photos and adventures to come !