Whither the Walkers Part 2

April 11, 2025April 11, 2025 / The Urban Nature Enthusiast / Leave a comment

Last winter, I looked for the Walkers daily, but there was no sign of them anywhere.

A new pair of feisty crows settled in their territory, claiming the cherry tree that had been the central Walker HQ. I became resigned to never seeing either of the Walkers again.

Then, one day in March, I heard a crow caw that was just a tiny bit different from the rest. I thought to myself, “That sounds just like Wanda.”

I hadn’t realized until that moment that her “caw” had always been slightly different and more strident than the average crow, but when I heard it, a vision of Wanda’s face just popped into my mind.

The Wanda-like call came from the part of the neighbourhood that used to “belong” to White Wing and her mate. The Wings had been gone for a couple of years now, and new crows had settled there too, so I didn’t really think it COULD be Wanda.

Nevertheless, I walked over in that direction to investigate further.

The crow in question flew over and I immediately noticed the same gap in the wing feathers that Wanda had. Then she landed beside me and I saw she had a curved beak tip, just like Wanda.

It was, and is, Wanda.

She was accompanied by another, larger crow, who held back a little and, for a moment, I hoped it was Mr. Walker.

But it wasn’t him — this crow had no eye damage and lacked Mr. W’s slightly curved beak tip.

After a few days of grieving Mr. Walker’s absence, I started to observe the new companion and the dynamic between him and Wanda.

I started to call the new guy Walter.

Wanda and her new mate, Walter, on a fence photograph by June Hunter

Walter (left) and Wanda (right)

He would seem to be a younger crow. He appears to be a bit timid at first meeting, but I think he waits and watches because Wanda has appointed him head of security operations.

Wanda and her new companion on what used to White Wing’s local stop sign.

Wanda remains Boudica-like in her determination to claim and retain this new territory. She even ventures boldly back into her old territory, held now by Fearless Freddy and Freda.

This inevitably causes friction, but the newly audacious Wanda continues to push her luck. At the first sign of aggression from the Fearless family, Walter swoops in to intervene. Crisis over, it’s back to a good vantage point to resume his lookout and backup duties. Clearly, part of Wanda’s chutzpah is knowing that she has a reliable bodyguard.

Walter the Crow perched on a mossy tree photograph

Walter on lookout duty

While seeing Wanda without Mr. Walker makes me sad to realize that he is likely now off at the big Sky Roost with all the other late, great, local crows — George, Mabel, White Wing, Mr. Pants — it also makes me happy to see how she’s adapted to her circumstances.

It’s so interesting to see how she, like Mabel before her, protected and cared for her ailing mate for as long as she could, and then went on to build a new life for herself, remaining a dominant force in the crow-munity. I’m hoping that, like Mabel, Wanda will have some more good years, ruling the block with her new and younger partner.

Wanda’s metamorphosis makes me think about how complicated crow characters can be and how we really still know so little about them — and about so many of the other creatures and organisms we share this planet with.

I’ve now seen several major personality changes in crows as their life situations have changed. These changes are driven, no doubt, by a simple survival imperative, but impressive to see, nonetheless. From talking to neighbours (human*) I’ve also learned that crows can show different personality traits with different people, depending on the relationships they’ve built. For example, White Wing was always the boldest crow in the pair when I saw them, but another person told me that White Wing always held back when she saw them, and Mr. Wing was the fearless one.

In my years of watching crows I realize that, for every one thing I think I’ve figured out about them, there are a hundred more questions. Trying to find the answer to those is what gets me out of the morning every day, rain or shine and makes the walk around the same few urban blocks as exciting as a safari.

Wanda landing on a fire hydrant photograph by June Hunter

Wanda on the fire hydrant that was once White Wing’s favourite perch.

Below, a Wanda losing audio contest with a Northern Flicker.

* I am specifying here which type of neighbour for clarity. The other morning, I came home after the morning dog walk and my husband asked me how the walk had been. I said, “Great! I saw everybody.” It took us a couple of minutes to realize that he thought that “everybody” referred to people. Lol.

Whither The Walkers?

April 10, 2025 / The Urban Nature Enthusiast / 3 Comments

I’m often asked how the Walkers are doing, so it’s time for an update.

Mr. Walker — as shown in City Crow Stories

The Walkers are featured in my City Crow Stories book — which is about to be reissued with some new chapters.

Over the years, Mr. Walker was always the focus of my blog posts; he was by far the bolder of the pair, named for his habit of walking fearlessly beside me and the dog.

Wanda, blind in one eye for the whole time I’ve known her, was always waiting in the background, timid and a bit clumsy in her flying technique. If there was a sudden crashing about in the branches, it was usually Wanda, failing to nail the landing again.

This family dynamic underwent a dramatic change in the spring of 2023 when Mr. Walker suffered a serious eye injury.

For a while, it looked as if he would not survive, sitting motionless on high tree branches for hours at a time. It was nesting season, however, so Wanda somehow chivvied him along enough for them to complete the nest and fledge three babies. Tragically, all three were infected with avian pox. As soon as they fledged, Mr. Walker vanished and Wanda spent a desperate week or two trying to defend and care for them on her own before she and the fledglings also disappeared.

The last of the Walker fledglings to leave the nest, spring 2023

I assumed that Mr. Walker had succumbed to his eye injury and the fledglings to their illness. Wanda’s whereabouts remained a mystery. Had she worked herself into an early grave or just gone off for a long rest somewhere?

Spring 2024 brought a Walker surprise — the reappearance of both Mr Walker and Wanda back on “their” block. It was wonderful to see them again after their mysterious winter absence but, sadly, Mr. W was still far from his old self.

Wanda, who had always been the timid one of the pair, took up all the slack, boldness-wise, morphing from wallflower to warrior queen.

This is not the first time I’ve seen a change in crow family circumstances result in a personality transformation. When I first met George and Mabel, George was the swashbuckler of the family; but when he lost the top part of his beak Mabel stepped up, accessed her inner Boudica, and became the fierce protector of family and territory.

From wallflower to warrior queen

I’d hoped to see them build another nest, but Mr. W seemed too ill to put in all that work. As the hot, dry summer went on, it seemed enough for the two of them to take care of each other.

The video below shows the last time I saw them together — Wanda preening her beloved Mr. W as he appears to drift off into a blissful late summer nap.

After that day they both vanished again.

As another whole Walker-less winter went by, I assumed that we had reached the end of their family saga.

There is, however, at least one more chapter — to be revealed in tomorrow’s post.

The Crow Helpline

February 19, 2025February 21, 2025 / The Urban Nature Enthusiast / 9 Comments

Sometimes I wonder if we’d be better off with crows in charge.

While photographing my local corvids, I often make small talk.

I ask them how they’re doing, if they’ve picked a nesting site yet, how the night at the roost went — general neighbourly chit chat.

Sometimes, I tell them what’s going on in the human world.

Partly for my own sanity, I’ve been working on a new series of crow portraits which, at least in my own imagination, offer snippets of practical advice for living through these “interesting” times.

The series is called THE CROW HELPLINE …

CROW COMMENTARY

This is Dolores, mate to Dennis and mother of Tufty, the 2024 fledgling suffering from avian pox, Dennis and Dolores have kept Tufty going through several cold and snowy weeks this winter. Dennis acquires food for Tufty and guards him or her, while Dolores acts as lookout, cawing out loud warnings of any impending danger.
To the casual observer, she may seem to be just a loud crow — but, as with all crow commentary, there is always a deeper meaning behind it.

RISKY BUSINESS

This is Norman, taking the tricky route along the picket fence. Sometimes everything seems fraught with danger, but you just have to take one tricky step after another and conquer the challenge.

CROW OF DISCERNMENT

Dennis could be described as a skeptic. He likes to double check his facts in this complicated world, making him a role model of good judgement and sense.

WADE IN

Sometimes the situation seems overwhelming — so you just need to take a deep breath and wade right in to get to the other side. This is Earl, a particularly inspiring crow.

TENACIOUS

Earl is an elderly and very photogenic crow of my acquaintance. He and his beautiful mate, Echo, have produced several generations of local crow characters. Once Earl makes his mind up, he’s an immovable crow — the epitome of tenacity!

MINDFUL CROW

“Be mindful” is such good advice — so why do I find it so hard to follow?

Watching mindfulness practiced by my local crows may be my best route to inner peace!

WISTFUL

Sometimes it’s OK just to feel sad and a bit confused.

HANG IN THERE

Crows are experts at adapting to challenging circumstances with aplomb. We can only aim for a small fraction of their graceful flexibility in our own lives.

BE ALERT

It is always wise to be on the alert, as Earl knows all too well.

SPEAK OUT

When things are wrong, don’t be afraid to speak out. Bongo is never a bird to keep his opinions to himself.

PERSPICACIOUS CROW

Norman the crow likes to get a view of things from all angles before reaching important decisions.

OUT ON A LIMB

Sometimes, you may feel as if you’re out on a limb.

As precarious as things may feel, Norman recommends adapting to the situation with as much nonchalance as you can muster. Fake it till you make it!

STRONGER TOGETHER

Earl has one crooked leg and Echo is blind in one eye but, together, they are local crow power couple; parents, grandparents and great grandparents to many other crow characters. They have each other’s backs at all times.

PHILOSOPHER CROW

I include Philosopher Crow with the theme of this series although it’s an older portrait. Mavis, with just that slightest tilt of the head, seems to suggest a world of crow philosophy. Mavis remains, after many years, my best-selling print.

You can find all of these new prints in my CROW CHARACTERS gallery.

Oh, and one last comment from Bongo.