As much as I love black & white photography, especially when it comes to crows and ravens, I have been doing a lot of color work lately, negatives, transparencies and  digital. Naturally, this includes crow photography.

 

I thought the best way to display this work would  be to create a page just for Crows in Color. I hope you enjoy the images.

A shot of the action at my favorite backyard branch. Youngsters from the family of the bird I call Baby Crow '97 alight in order to scan the immediate area for food. They will soon be joined by their mother and grandmother -- or mother and aunt -- or just mother and a friend. I'm guessing here.

Crows mob birds of prey, probably to protect their nests and fellow flock members. This bald eagle was mobbed by a single crow.

I was leaving my studio and saw this incident occurring right across the street. Naturally, I had no camera with me. I called to the birds, "Stay right there," and drove the 20 minute round trip home to grab a camera and long lens. When I returned, the crow was still at it. I managed to shoot an entire roll of film before the eagle grew tired of the game and left.

Recently, I heard of a bald eagle -- quite possibly this one, diving into a tree filled with crows, a tree in the middle of town,  behind a muffler repair shop.  I am told there was a great commotion as cawing crows scattered in all directions. The eagle emerged with a crow in its talons. The storyteller swore the story was true/ " I wish I had a camera," he said.

The crows were from the same group as the one in this photo.

Another one from that branch.

From a window, I keep a long lens aimed at this area. The crows have become so wary of any movement coming from the window,  that I have had to draw the curtains closed, leaving them open just wide enough for the lens. My house is a giant blind. 

This crow is Baby Crow '97, the matriarch of a group of 13 crows and growing.  And lest anyone think she is a pet -- no. This crow is completely wild, and despite the fact that I raised her, wants nothing whatsoever do do with me. This is as it should be.  Wild animals, whenever possible, belong in the wild.

 

Crow about to pick up the sun. Perhaps this is a local variant of stories from native peoples of northwest North America, especially British Columbia and Alaska. In those stories, the principle character is Raven. It this location, it is perhaps Crow.

By the way, where is this location? Any ideas?

Pathfinder is the clue.

 

Crows are everywhere.

A more down to earth version,  but again featuring Crow in what is rightfully Raven's story.

There is always plenty of activity at the branch.  In the light of early morning, one of the younger crows takes flight.

Calling in the Clan

Note for photographers: This image is straight from the camera, there are no special effects. I saw the shot, but the window -- old distorted and dirty glass -- was closed. Light was morning overcast with fog. The only way to get the shot was to shoot through the window .

Yearling crow maintains the bond by imitating a begging baby.

Backyard Dawn

By the light of winter's moon,

they exchanged their vows.