i was walking along some bushes when a bird flew out from a bush in front of my path into a grass clearing. it was a very small crow. it made two quiet, short, high-pitched peeps in rapid succession, hopping in circles. i tried to walk around it, but it kept blocking my path and making the exact same peeps at me.

i got back on the stone path, and it hopped up right next to me, and starting ripping up grass and throwing it over my feet. i chuckled, and it stopped, looked up at me, and… peeped again, before continuing to bury my feet in grass.

i continued walking and it followed right next to me till the end of the path before watching me walk away and then returning to its bush.

i didn’t recognise this bird, or seen a bird do this to me or anyone else before. i’m on especially friendly terms with the corvids in my neighbourhood, but they don’t normally approach me.

any ideas? have you seen something similar?

  • memfree
    5·
    6 months ago

    I agree with others here. It wanted your attention, probably for help – either for a ‘friend’ or for itself. Could it have been a recently fledged juvenile wanting food? It may have seen mom looking for the grass and getting food from that activity, but unable to master the art.

    Did you look for a nest or another bird in the original shrub? It could have been trying to keep you from finding an injured friend (killdeer fake wing injuries to lure you away from their nests).

    Was it close enough that you can go back with some treats and a camera? I’d do that.

    • onoira [they/them]@lemmy.dbzer0.comOPEnglish
      2·
      6 months ago

      Did you look for a nest or another bird in the original shrub?

      i didn’t see anything in the bush at first glance. i tried to see if it was leading me somewhere, but it didn’t seem like it. i didn’t want to stress them out by approaching them too quickly or digging thru the bush.

      they did seem very small, so it’s possible they don’t know how to feed themself. it’s not too far, so i can try checking on them sometime soon. i don’t want to invade their home, tho.

      • memfree
        6·
        6 months ago

        I read the other posts about your relationship with the local birds and now I’m really thinking it is a kid saying, “Mom won’t feed me anymore, but she said you’d do it. I CAN’T!!! Look! I’m TRYING and it doesn’t WORK!”