New study finds that crows have the reasoning ability of a seven-year-old human

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/mar/26/crows-reasoning-ability-seven-year-old-humans

Interesting!

7 years old in human terms is surprising, although I have long been aware that crows are not as daft as they look.

Many years ago, flocks of crows used to settle on the field where I exercised my Dobie, Zeta. She would chase off after them and set them into flight - great fun. Until one day - one crow, after being set into flight, turned round and flew six inches above Zeta's head, wings outstretched and head lowered as if to peck her eyes out. Zeta turned and ran back to me in terror and the crow maintained his menacing position until the last possible moment. It scared the hell out of me and scared the hell out of Zeta.

I always knew they were intelligent and able of reasoning, but I didn't know how precisely either.

Poor Zeta! And poor you! It must have been frightening! The crow family is quite known for dive-bombing and chasing predators, from crows right down to magpies and jays.

It was scary, yes.

Last year a crow in the field would "dive-bomb" dogs, including Kuchar, when they got near a certain tree, obviously protecting its young. That's birds.

but that crow that flew over Zeta was full of malevolence and obviously trained by Alfred Hitchcock!

Does Kuchar take any notice?

Oh dear! It does sound like a particularly vindictive bird!

Kuchar will still chase crows, although he's on a long lead and I'll catch it up if he sets off after any bird, squirrel or cat, if only that he'll pull me off my feet if I don't.

The dive-bombing crow didn't worry him last year, and the Hitchcock crow has long since gone to Rainbow Bridge or wherever crows go to!

Bless him. Dempsey chases crows, but his attempt at stealth is pitiful at best, so he never gets within twenty metres.

R.I.P., Hitchcock crow. Many happy dive-bombs in heaven!