My Relationship with the American Crow as a Wildlife Photographer

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Today’s images feature an American Crow, with one photographed in a soybean field at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma, while the other was photographed near the Ouachita National Forest here in Arkansas.

My Encounters with the American Crow

American Crow In A Soybean Field at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma

I don’t think that I have ever written a post about my relationship with the American Crow. It seems like these birds are always nearby, no matter where I am. I first noticed it when I hiked the Ouachita National Forest here in Arkansas. I would be in the middle of know where in the forest, but I could count on the crows keeping me company.

Crows Close to Home

I have even had a nesting pair of crows in my yard. I had one of the fledgling come for a visit [American Crow Fledgling].

Campground Companions

I have had them nearby while I was camping, which is not unusual since they are known for stealing food at campsites. I photographed one during a hot camping trip eating ice [American Crow Eating Ice].

Always Within Earshot

I even have a friend in Utah that has mentioned that they seem to always hear crows in the background while talking to me on the phone.

Crow Intelligence and Behavior

I have seen lots of videos of people feeding Crows and the Crows bring gifts in return. I have never tried this myself.

Why I Think Crows Are Drawn to Me

Here are a couple of reasons I think this crow companionship seems to happen to me frequently:

Crows are intelligent and curious birds that may be interested in observing humans or other animals. Their curiosity likely draws them near.
Crows are known for their unique gifts for communication and may be trying to interact with me in their own crow way.

I know this all seems baffling and that people may think I have been out in the wilderness with wildlife for too long. But I find my crow companions oddly comforting wherever my photography adventures take me. I’ve come to appreciate their watchful eyes and social antics. To me, the crows have become symbols of the wild places I love to capture through my lens.

Photography Notes

Image Information (First Image):

Camera: Canon EOS R5
Lens: Canon RF 800
ISO: 1600
Aperture: 11
Shutter: 1/2000
Exp. Comp.: -0.3