Crows return favors with ‘thank-you gifts’ after woman rescues injured bird
Crows in a Canadian neighborhood are repaying a kindness with gifts of their own. After local resident Leah Wilson rescued an injured crow from a roof gutter, the birds began following her on walks and leaving small items at her feet.
Wilson, a member of the Métis indigenous peoples, spotted a young crow stuck inside a roof gutter. With no ladder available, she flagged down a nearby fire truck and convinced firefighters to help. “I was like, ‘Hey! You look like you want to save a crow today,’” Wilson recalled to CTV. The crew brought a ladder, freed the bird, and Wilson took it to a wildlife veterinarian.
In Wilson’s car, the rescued crow latched onto her finger and held on. She called the moment “life-changing.” Days after releasing the bird, Wilson was walking her dog when a crow flew down and dropped a small feathered bundle at her feet. That marked the first of several “thank-you gifts” from the local murder.
Now Wilson says she has a flock of crow friends. Every time she steps out, crows circle around her and escort her through the neighborhood. She describes it as the “highlight” of her day. So far the birds have left her more than half a dozen items, including sticks, balls of moss, and even a smaller bird’s nest.
Scientists say crows have sharp memories and complex social bonds. They can remember human faces and share information about specific people with other crows. Wilson sees the daily visits as a natural extension of her lifelong connection to nature, and proof that respectful relationships with wildlife are possible.
