Whatever happened to...

[Aaldtimer]

...the Common Crow?
Following up from the Piggin Shooters thread I was amazed to find that it's not even featured on the RSPB website.
Then I had a look in my 20+ year old Readers Digest bird book and it ain't there either!
Is it completely gone from the UK now?

[Kenn]

Try looking under Carrion Crow which is it's proper name.

[Aaldtimer]

No Lizz, that's not the same bird .
The bird I remember from my youth was quite a bit smaller than the others, with a yellow/orangey bill.
I'm talking 40-50 years ago, but haven't seen one for at least 30 years.
Guess it was down to that pesticide that was banned eventually that affected the thickness of the eggshells of some birds...it was a series of letters that escapes me at the moment.
This Auldtimer's Disease is hard sometimes!

[Anji]

.
Guess it was down to that pesticide that was banned eventually that affected the thickness of the eggshells of some birds...it was a series of letters that escapes me at the moment.

DDT?

Anyway, I've just checked my bird books and was surprised to find the crow listed in neither. Like Aaldtimer, I remember crows as being smaller than what we call crows today, with orange beaks.

[Kevin Milkins]

The only crow I remember that has not got a black beak is the Chough.

[Stefan]

You guys thinking of this bird ?

[tonkatojo]

The only crow I remember that has not got a black beak is the Chough.

Thought they had a red one tho

[tonkatojo]

No Lizz, that's not the same bird .
The bird I remember from my youth was quite a bit smaller than the others, with a yellow/orangey bill.
I'm talking 40-50 years ago, but haven't seen one for at least 30 years.
Guess it was down to that pesticide that was banned eventually that affected the thickness of the eggshells of some birds...it was a series of letters that escapes me at the moment.
This Auldtimer's Disease is hard sometimes!

Maybe it was the old chooks you can mind, black rocks or the likes. funny the mind at times. LOL