Amazing: Birds Reward 8 year old Girl Who Constantly Feeds Them (Photo)

“You may take a few close looks, but don’t touch.”  Gabi Mann has practiced this warning on her younger brother but laughs afterwards. She’s referring to her most precious collections – gifts she received from the crow birds she feeds in her neighbourhood.

Lots of people feed birds, some have them in their garden. But the generosity is not always reciprocated as only Crows are known to bring back gifts to people who constantly feed them. In fact, not everyone stand a chance to get a gift from this one of the world’s most intelligent animals.

Inside the box are rows of small objects in clear plastic bags. One label reads: “Black table by feeder. 2:30 p.m. 09 Nov 2014.” Inside is a broken light bulb. Another bag contains small pieces of brown glass worn smooth by the sea. “Beer coloured glass,” as Gabi describes it.

For amazing facts about the Crow bird, click here

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Each item is individually wrapped and categorised. Gabi pulls a black zip out of a labelled bag and holds it up. “We keep it in as good condition as we can,” she says, before explaining this object is one of her favourites.

If you want to form a bond with a crow, be consistent in rewarding them – John Marzluff, Prof of wildlife science at the University of Washington who specialises in birds, particularly crows and ravens.

The relationship between Gabi and the neighbourhood crows began when she was four. She was prone to dropping food accidentally. She’d get out of the car, and some would tumble off her lap. A crow would rush in to recover it. Soon, the crows were watching for her, hoping for another bite.

Crows habituate to the routine you use in feeding them. If you make a certain sound and afterwards throw food at them, each time they hear that sound they flock around you whether or not you have something for them.

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She rewarded their attention by sharing her lunch every time she returns from school. Soon her younger brother joined her. And now, the crows line up every afternoon in anticipation for Gabi’s school bus for another feeding spree. Her mom is glad that they are willing to share with these birds.

Only after Gabi adopted a routine of feeding the birds every morning in her backyard that the gifts began to appear.  Gifts showed up sporadically – anything shiny and small enough to fit in a crow’s mouth. One time it was a tiny piece of metal with the word “best” printed on it.

Scientists did a study of crows and the people who feed them. They found that crows and people form a very personal relationship. There’s definitely a two-way communication going on there. They understand each other’s signals.

Gabi’s mom regularly photographs the crows and records their behaviour and interactions in a chart. Her most amazing gift came just a few weeks ago, when she lost a lens cap in a nearby alley while photographing a bald eagle as it circled over the neighbourhood.

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Gabi’s mom later found it lying near the bird bath. Had the crows returned it? Well to find out, the mom logged on to her computer and pulled up their bird-cam. There was the crow she suspected. “You can see it bringing it into the yard. Walks it to the bird bath and actually spends time rinsing this lens cap.”

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