hunting crows to save nesting waterfowl eggs?

[wwbirds]

Was talking to a friend months ago and subject of hunting crows and ravens(on owned property) came up to which he replied it was senseless as a study from DU or Delta he read put crows and ravens at number 6 or 7 behind many others with low percentage of egg/nest loss.

He believed the order of serious egg/chick predation started at skunks, raccoons and worked though foxes and even coyotes before aerial predators entered the equation. wondering if that has some regional differences for we see few skunks and no raccoons here thinking the great horns probably keep them in check on the open prairies.
However for the past week I am seeing unusually high numbers of both crows and ravens sitting on fence posts along slough edges in prime waterfowl habitat between Weed Lake and Taylor Marsh. They seem to wait until a hen leaves her nest so they can swoop in and eat the eggs. I have also found 5 or 6 eggs in the yard assuming they were dropped by flying predators as you think ground predators would break the shell not just pick a 1 inch hole in it.

[troutbug]

Originally Posted by wwbirds

Was talking to a friend months ago and subject of hunting crows and ravens(on owned property) came up to which he replied it was senseless as a study from DU or Delta he read put crows and ravens at number 6 or 7 behind many others with low percentage of egg/nest loss.

He believed the order of serious egg/chick predation started at skunks, raccoons and worked though foxes and even coyotes before aerial predators entered the equation. wondering if that has some regional differences for we see few skunks and no raccoons here thinking the great horns probably keep them in check on the open prairies.
However for the past week I am seeing unusually high numbers of both crows and ravens sitting on fence posts along slough edges in prime waterfowl habitat between Weed Lake and Taylor Marsh. They seem to wait until a hen leaves her nest so they can swoop in and eat the eggs. I have also found 5 or 6 eggs in the yard assuming they were dropped by flying predators as you think ground predators would break the shell not just pick a 1 inch hole in it.

When we first moved into our current home we setup all the feeders, houses etc. After a few months the magpies, crows etc moved in and we would see NO songbirds of any kind. They tried nesting but would be chased away and attacked by magpies and crows. After taking out a few magpies and crows they got the hint and either died or moved on. Now we have all kinds of birds nesting and visiting the yard from blue jays, finches, grosbeaks, swallows etc.

Was interesting to see the magpies terrorize everything, tear up nests and make a mess, a crow would come in and boss the magpie around and it would leave until the crow was done then come back.

[TrapperMike]

Don’t know about that delta and du information. I was one of the trappers involved with the study here in Alberta and I found that the worst predators were the ravens and raptors. The ravens would steal eggs all day long and once the chicks hatched they would clean them up. The hawks would work as a team and one would flush the hen off the nest and the other one would kill her. As for the great horned owls the just kill everything including other owls.

[Big_Willy]

The world is a better place when you pick off a magpie, coyote, skunk, racoon or crow.

But, aren't ravens protected?

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by Big_Willy

The world is a better place when you pick off a magpie, coyote, skunk, racoon or crow.

But, aren't ravens protected?

Ravens are protected on public land , not on private land.

[IR_mike]

Originally Posted by Big_Willy

The world is a better place when you pick off a magpie, coyote, skunk, racoon or crow.

That's like the 11th commandment.

[Deer Hunter]

It's a personal favorite seeing a crow blow up when hit with a 40 gr 223 Rem bullet. Just another reason to go for a long walk with a firearm.

[Deer Hunter]

Originally Posted by TrapperMike

Don’t know about that delta and du information. I was one of the trappers involved with the study here in Alberta and I found that the worst predators were the ravens and raptors. The ravens would steal eggs all day long and once the chicks hatched they would clean them up. The hawks would work as a team and one would flush the hen off the nest and the other one would kill her. As for the great horned owls the just kill everything including other owls.

Yeah owls and hawks.

[does it ALL outdoors]

Originally Posted by Deer Hunter

It's a personal favorite seeing a crow blow up when hit with a 40 gr 223 Rem bullet. Just another reason to go for a long walk with a firearm.

Right on.

Used to have some good battles with them when I worked at Devon Jackfish, they would come right inside the buildings and tear garbages apart leaving a HUGE mess.

I HATE Crows and Ravens both. Almost as much as those destructive tree rats.

[tikka250]

I once attended a presentation by delta where they discussed the studies on nest predation and ravens were one of the top culprits along with coyote and fox.
One of my coyote trapping friends noticed last year that in one area where he had hit the coyotes extremely hard the nest success rates were high. My coyote areas are not great for waterfowl but the grouse numbers are awesome now that I have started trapping coyotes.

[Grizzly Adams]

Originally Posted by does it ALL outdoors

Right on.

Used to have some good battles with them when I worked at Devon Jackfish, they would come right inside the buildings and tear garbages apart leaving a HUGE mess.

I HATE Crows and Ravens both. Almost as much as those destructive tree rats.

Ravens were going right into my neighbors chicken coop to steal eggs. I gather you can hunt them effectively by setting up an decoy and shotgunning them from a blind.

https://www.outdoorcanada.ca/want-to...target-ravens/

Grizz

[calgarychef]

[QUOTE=Grizzly Adams;4172794]Ravens were going right into my neighbors chicken coop to steal eggs. I gather you can hunt them effectively by setting up an decoy and shotgunning them from a blind.

https://www.outdoorcanada.ca/want-to...target-ravens/

Grizz[/QUOTE

I’ve shot crows On decoys, you’d better bring lots of shells.
Once the other crows see them falling they think there’s some good reason the dead crows are all landing. Things get pretty exciting....

[Don Andersen]

And the worst part. Ravens are not native in Alberta.

Don

[trigger7mm]

Smack a crow or raven whenever you get a chance. That and those dirty, rotten cormorants. Those floating rats would be number one on my hit list for sure.

[W921]

Like others have said crows are egg hunters.
Ravens are way worse. Kill everyone you can. They will pick the eyes out of a new born calf.

[WinefredCommander]

Originally Posted by wwbirds

Was talking to a friend months ago and subject of hunting crows and ravens(on owned property) came up to which he replied it was senseless as a study from DU or Delta he read put crows and ravens at number 6 or 7 behind many others with low percentage of egg/nest loss.

He believed the order of serious egg/chick predation started at skunks, raccoons and worked though foxes and even coyotes before aerial predators entered the equation. wondering if that has some regional differences for we see few skunks and no raccoons here thinking the great horns probably keep them in check on the open prairies.
However for the past week I am seeing unusually high numbers of both crows and ravens sitting on fence posts along slough edges in prime waterfowl habitat between Weed Lake and Taylor Marsh. They seem to wait until a hen leaves her nest so they can swoop in and eat the eggs. I have also found 5 or 6 eggs in the yard assuming they were dropped by flying predators as you think ground predators would break the shell not just pick a 1 inch hole in it.

I think your friend was misinformed!

[gunluvr]

Ravens crows and magpies all need to die, true. There is certainly no shortage of ducks and geese though, at least around here.
Apart from a few songbirds and those that eat mosquitoes or mice, most birds are vermin, imo.

[Big Grey Wolf]

Saw a good show on loss of birds. They claimed the increase in both crows and our robin played a part in increase of west nile as the carriers of the disease. However I still like robins, crows eat to many song bird eggs and young birds.

[troutbug]

We used to have to watch on the farm when the cows were calving, the crows and ravens would attack the new born and start with the eye balls. Used to sit with a shotgun and pick them off

[walking buffalo]

Originally Posted by Don Andersen

And the worst part. Ravens are not native in Alberta.

Don

Please tell us you are joking.

C'mon Don, first you tell us that Otters never existed in southern Alberta and now Ravens are not native to Alberta....

[wwbirds]

Who participated in a study for his doctorate removing crows from an area to see if it affected hatch rates. Apparently there was no discernible difference between control area and other areas where crows were removed. The paper was published which is probably the one my friend had seen.
I think the ravens elevate the predation to a whole new level at least in my area.

[Grizzly Adams]

Originally Posted by wwbirds

Who participated in a study for his doctorate removing crows from an area to see if it affected hatch rates. Apparently there was no discernible difference between control area and other areas where crows were removed. The paper was published which is probably the one my friend had seen.
I think the ravens elevate the predation to a whole new level at least in my area.

Maybe just me, but ravens seem a lot more common these days. Two neighbors right around me are having problems now.

Grizz

[Big Sky]

If you're having a good day in the gopher fields, everybody starts to show up for the free lunch; magpies, crows, ravens, gulls, birds of prey and once things quiet down, the occasional coyote.

Usually manage to get one or two legal birds per outing.
It's like a civic duty.

[IronNoggin]

Originally Posted by tikka250

I once attended a presentation by delta where they discussed the studies on nest predation and ravens were one of the top culprits along with coyote and fox.
One of my coyote trapping friends noticed last year that in one area where he had hit the coyotes extremely hard the nest success rates were high.

Many moons ago while I was still in Lethbridge U, I took on a job as a Predator Specialist with DU / Alta F&W.

My function was chiefly to determine predation rates for various species on duck nests and hatchlings.

While the usual suspects were well represented (skunks, foxes, coyotes and even the odd badger) crows, ravens and to some extent magpies all hit The List.

Simple answer: shoot the damn birds to make more of your preferred birds.
And, get into a little predator reduction effort at the same time.
The neighborhood paddlers will certainly appreciate your efforts!

Cheers,
Nog

[MountainTi]

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams

Maybe just me, but ravens seem a lot more common these days. Two neighbors right around me are having problems now.

Grizz

They're moved onto the prairies in the last few years

[bushnell]

Only good ones are dead ones

[Battle Rat]

Originally Posted by walking buffalo

Please tell us you are joking.

C'mon Don, first you tell us that Otters never existed in southern Alberta and now Ravens are not native to Alberta....

Joking or smoking something.