Field observations from 7th December 2021 to 10th December 2021

The weather conditions of this beginning of winter made me split the december observations in two parts. The first one, described in this post, was from inside, observing and making photos of corvids as temperatures dropped under -20C°.

For the second set of observations, I waited for a day with the “warmer” temperature of -14C° to go outisde and film various areas. The film is not ready yet, but there will be a link here as soon as it will. Obviously, with such temperature, the behaviour of corvids changes.

They spend a large part of their day resting in tree, often in this kind of “puffy” shape, that allows them to conserve their heat.

Different species can be seen more often sharing the same tree, as long as they are in an area of “rest” and not an area of “food” where competition can be fierce. Here, a C. frugilegus resting in a tree.

In the same tree, just a little lower, a C. cornix is landed on the trunk.

We often think about difficult climate as hostile environment, creating hostile and competitive behaviour in wildlife. It can be true, but reality is more complex. It can be also a source of more peaceful situations, where saving your energy means avoiding conflict and fight if you are not absolutely sure is it worthy.