Happening at the Crossroads
March 18, 2007
As we get closer to the Presidential campaign, we hear a lot about party caucuses. They're happening all over the country this spring, and we have had several at Crossroads at Big Creek. I'm talking about a raucous caucus - or maybe I should say caw-cus, for these gatherings have been of crows.
Crows are gregarious birds, but when they get together in the middle of the day, it's not to party hearty. These birds gather for a reason, and more often than not, that reason is an owl.
These intelligent black birds hate owls. I'm treading the dangerous ground of anthropomorphism in attributing emotions to birds. But there is just no other way to say it.
Crow prejudice toward owls is real, and that hate is reciprocated because crows go out of their way to make life miserable for owls. Their method is a behavior called mobbing. If a crow locates a owl... any old owl, innocently perching in a tree, even sleeping, that crow caws a special "mob call" and dozens of other crows rush in from every direction all joining in the caw-caphony. This swirling mob of angry crow dives and swoops at the hapless owl until it moves on.
Moving on" is precisely what the crows want the owl to do. Crows prefer that owls be as far away from their nest sites as possible.
Many behaviorist think that mobbing may have an additional objective. By mobbing an owl, the adult crows are teaching the young to recognize the enemy. That sounds somehow so familiar: teaching the young!
Crossroads at Big Creek offers programming for learners of all ages, but we are, and alway have been, strongly committed to teaching the young. For that reason, while area schools are on vacation, Crossroads offers Family Programs.
Free Family Programs will be offered Monday, Wednesday and Friday of next week. On Monday, March 26 at 10:00 an Astronomy Program will be offered in the lecture hall and lab of the Collins Learning Center. In the afternoon, Family History Program will be offered at 2:00. Wednesday at 2:00, a program on Wisconsin Wildlife will be presented. Families are encouraged, but all are welcome.
Crows mob more frequently as we approach spring , and humans - especially gardeners - also seem eager for for the growing season. Crossroads will host two lectures on landscaping this week.
On Saturday, March 24, Wild Ones will welcome Carl Scholz to Crossroads at 1:30 presenting "A Potpourri: Nature and Yard". Carl will discuss participating in interesting nature observations and a rite of spring. Included also will be information and discussion on meaningful and healthy yards. This program is free and open to the public.
Tuesday Evening, Master Gardeners invite the community to the Collins Learning Center for a free lecture titled: "Planning Your Landscape" presented by Registered Landscape Architect Greg Meissner. Greg will give advice on how to design and maintain outdoor living spaces.
The Health Seminar Series goes on the road as our second program is offered at 10:00 Wednesday, March 28 at SCANDIA VILLAGE GOOD SAMARITAN in Sister Bay. The topic will be The Importance of Staying Active and DCMH Rehab Services "What We Do and How We Can Help!" Greg Lucas, Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) of Door County Memorial Hospital Ministry Health Care will will help maturing Door County adults understand how they understand how best to keep fit or return to fitness. This presentation will be presented at a later date at Crossroads.
Crossroads is a mission-driven learning preserve focused on science, history and the environment. The Collins Learning Center is located at 2041 Michigan (across from Whitetails Unlimited.) Spring hours of the Collins Learning Center are Sunday, Monday and Thursday 1:30-5:00; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday 11:00-3:00 and for scheduled activities. To arrange a program, call 746-5895.
