I keep reading articles citing recent science proclaiming Crows to be as intelligent as 7 year old human children. It is an interesting thought. Seeing as how we have a seven year old son, and a one and a half year old Jungle Crow in our family, I feel somewhat qualified to comment on these observations, in a lighthearted way, certainly not scientifically. Just some quick recollections.
Recently, with winter approaching, Fig spends a couple of her inside hours before bed each evening socializing with us at the dinner table. Sitting in a new room, with a cat, was, to say the least, disconcerting and stressful for her. So, we have taken it slow, and I have let her perch on my hand, and I put my hand on the perch while I sit. The perch being the extra chair. Now, I know very well that she would love a higher perch out of reach of the cat, but part of the point is to socialize her to everyone in the family, including the cat, and visa versa. Long story short, she spent a week adjusting. Finally, she seemed comfortable with the new space, and the change to her routine, which again, is designed to challenge her a little, and keep her life experience interesting for her mental health. If the experience continued to stress her out, I would have ceased to ask her to do it, but she made daily progress, so eventually, I started asking Fig to go onto the chair, and perch there by herself. Her initial response for a few days was NO WAY. Let's remember she isn't yet two. So, she still clings tight to Daddy. When I asked her to step off my hand, onto the chair, she climbed up my arm, retreating in close to me for protection. So, I only asked her once. Then I apologized, and reassured her, and let her resume sitting on my hand.
So here is the interesting bit. A few days later, Fig is on my hand/on the perch as usual. Suddenly, she leaps off onto the perch/the back of the chair. Well! Good girl! I said. Then I offered her my hand to sit on again. No she said, pushing my hand away with her beak clearly intentionally, demonstrating determination to impress me with her newly declared independence. Now, as the parent of a seven year old, I can tell you that this behavior is exactly what my son does when I gently ask him to do something challenging and new. At first he may object outright, but if I have not been pushy, or shamed him, given a couple of days, he will suddenly jump to it with a proud Look Daddy! I'm doing it!!! Another day or two down the road, and I suddenly find that I have to be very careful bringing Fig into the house, because now she wants to leap/fly through the house, daring the cat to have a go for her rather tauntingly, finally leaping up to the back of HER chair rather dare devil proudly.
This is not the only anecdote which aptly fits the description. If I give Fig some new, or disliked food for example, she will ignore it, or toss it aside, even if she is hungry. She will work her charms for something better, and her patience is incredible. BUT if I tell her sternly to eat something which I know is good for her, that she is not too fond of, I will come back in a few minutes to discover that she has "dutifully" chewed it into tiny tiny pieces and tossed it all over the place in what I must imagine is supposed to be a convincing scene meant to fool me into thinking that she has had a go at eating her veggies as she was told.
For every parent, the ultimate frustration is the invisible quality our voices take on to our children's blind ears. At times we are tempted to raise our voices and gesticulations to embarrassing levels which even our own children cannot ignore. When we do this, as we rein in our children, they are likely to appear to shrink, or shrivel in compliance. Yes, Daddy. Fig is no different in this regard when I am doing my best to handle her safely during outside exercise. Who is more rambunctious, child or Crow, is very tough to say.
As intelligent? Jury is still out. Just like a human child? Very much so.
Recently, with winter approaching, Fig spends a couple of her inside hours before bed each evening socializing with us at the dinner table. Sitting in a new room, with a cat, was, to say the least, disconcerting and stressful for her. So, we have taken it slow, and I have let her perch on my hand, and I put my hand on the perch while I sit. The perch being the extra chair. Now, I know very well that she would love a higher perch out of reach of the cat, but part of the point is to socialize her to everyone in the family, including the cat, and visa versa. Long story short, she spent a week adjusting. Finally, she seemed comfortable with the new space, and the change to her routine, which again, is designed to challenge her a little, and keep her life experience interesting for her mental health. If the experience continued to stress her out, I would have ceased to ask her to do it, but she made daily progress, so eventually, I started asking Fig to go onto the chair, and perch there by herself. Her initial response for a few days was NO WAY. Let's remember she isn't yet two. So, she still clings tight to Daddy. When I asked her to step off my hand, onto the chair, she climbed up my arm, retreating in close to me for protection. So, I only asked her once. Then I apologized, and reassured her, and let her resume sitting on my hand.
So here is the interesting bit. A few days later, Fig is on my hand/on the perch as usual. Suddenly, she leaps off onto the perch/the back of the chair. Well! Good girl! I said. Then I offered her my hand to sit on again. No she said, pushing my hand away with her beak clearly intentionally, demonstrating determination to impress me with her newly declared independence. Now, as the parent of a seven year old, I can tell you that this behavior is exactly what my son does when I gently ask him to do something challenging and new. At first he may object outright, but if I have not been pushy, or shamed him, given a couple of days, he will suddenly jump to it with a proud Look Daddy! I'm doing it!!! Another day or two down the road, and I suddenly find that I have to be very careful bringing Fig into the house, because now she wants to leap/fly through the house, daring the cat to have a go for her rather tauntingly, finally leaping up to the back of HER chair rather dare devil proudly.
This is not the only anecdote which aptly fits the description. If I give Fig some new, or disliked food for example, she will ignore it, or toss it aside, even if she is hungry. She will work her charms for something better, and her patience is incredible. BUT if I tell her sternly to eat something which I know is good for her, that she is not too fond of, I will come back in a few minutes to discover that she has "dutifully" chewed it into tiny tiny pieces and tossed it all over the place in what I must imagine is supposed to be a convincing scene meant to fool me into thinking that she has had a go at eating her veggies as she was told.
For every parent, the ultimate frustration is the invisible quality our voices take on to our children's blind ears. At times we are tempted to raise our voices and gesticulations to embarrassing levels which even our own children cannot ignore. When we do this, as we rein in our children, they are likely to appear to shrink, or shrivel in compliance. Yes, Daddy. Fig is no different in this regard when I am doing my best to handle her safely during outside exercise. Who is more rambunctious, child or Crow, is very tough to say.
As intelligent? Jury is still out. Just like a human child? Very much so.
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