Crows on the Ash Pile
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Just curious if this is a common thing I am an avid hunter and fisherman, I have been stuck in the house with the honey do list today and I have noticed upwards of 20 crows on my ash pile flying away with what looks to be some more solidified ash chunks, I do know they like shiny things and what not, what value would this burnt up coal be to them, unless they need the grit to eat like a turkey. Has anyone experienced this?
- Pancho
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If it's recently dumped ash, perhaps they are using them as feet warmers.Fingerlakes27 wrote:Just curious if this is a common thing I am an avid hunter and fisherman, I have been stuck in the house with the honey do list today and I have noticed upwards of 20 crows on my ash pile flying away with what looks to be some more solidified ash chunks, I do know they like shiny things and what not, what value would this burnt up coal be to them, unless they need the grit to eat like a turkey. Has anyone experienced this?
I've never seen any critters fussin' around my ash pile.
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They're not after the ash.... They're after the unburnt coal. I've seen em at Tractor supply trying to steal it but they cant get the bags open...
:bag:
:bag:
- windyhill4.2
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They are picking up the hardest pieces they can find to then drop on people or cars & then act like crows do caw,caw,ha,ha.
- davidmcbeth3
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They are picking out the coal for their little stoves.
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Most likely they are after the grit in the coal ashes. Almost all birds need grit to process their food, and if the ground is covered in snow and ice than the easiest place to get that grit would be from the ash pile.
Dan.
Dan.
- Sunny Boy
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I've had a family of crows living behind my place for many years.
They come almost daily to pick at the compost pile and left overs we put out for them. I've never seen them touch any of the coal ash, clinkers, or unburned pieces that my driveway is paved with, or thrown up on the fresh snow by the snow blower.
They might be using it to cover up food stocks. I've seen the crows eat and when they've had enough they go around hiding the remaining bits of food under leaves and twigs. With the leaves covered in snow maybe the coal chunks get used to cover up their extra food ???
Paul
They come almost daily to pick at the compost pile and left overs we put out for them. I've never seen them touch any of the coal ash, clinkers, or unburned pieces that my driveway is paved with, or thrown up on the fresh snow by the snow blower.
They might be using it to cover up food stocks. I've seen the crows eat and when they've had enough they go around hiding the remaining bits of food under leaves and twigs. With the leaves covered in snow maybe the coal chunks get used to cover up their extra food ???
Paul
Last edited by Sunny Boy on Sun. Feb. 22, 2015 10:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
- Formulabruce
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I use Coal slag ( yes from a bottom feed electric plant) and mix with icemelt to clean the ice in gutters etc. The black coal slag get warm QUICK in the sun and drops through making the ice into swiss cheese. I have black birds take the black pieces they find and I suspect its to get warmth from them and to help melt snow for water to drink. all my birds get to the eaves or any dropped coal to get some water..
- dlj
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I get a lot of Blue Jays on my ash pile. Haven't seen crows there though...
dj
dj
- VigIIPeaBurner
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Blue Jays and Crows are from the same Family. Makes sense they'd like similar things.dlj wrote:I get a lot of Blue Jays on my ash pile. Haven't seen crows there though...
dj
- EarthWindandFire
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I've never had birds near the ash pile. However, my 200lb mastiff loves eating the coal I drop on the living room floor.