I saw some video once about intelligence tests on crows. In one experiment they had a tall but thin glass of water with some treat floating on the surface but it was too low for the crow to reach. So the crow started dropping rocks into the glass, causing the water level to rise, until it could reach the treat.

I was so impressed, I wanted to replicate that. I went to a park around the corner with some nuts to befriend some crows. My plan was to just feed them for a while so they would trust me. But after a few days I had flock of crows following me everywhere through the city. That was a bit too much.

My dad had a friend who worked at a remote logging area and tossed his bread crust to a raven that was perched by the road. Next day, the raven swooped past his truck as he drove past. Eventually he stopped and dug something out of his lunchbox and gave it to him.

Then every day for months, he would just hold a snack in his fingers and the raven would swoop down and grab it as he drove past. Pretty amazing to think about. That level of foresight, adherence to a routine, not giving up (days off, etc).

Crows are natures version of the flock camera network. I made the mistake of regularly throwing a cup of premium bird seed into the yard. Once they locked onto this activity I got in trouble for stopping. They would do as you describe. I'd see them standing on top of my truck as I walk out of the grocery store.

That’s an Aesop’s fable (the Crow and the Pitcher).

https://read.gov/aesop/012.html

Speaking of animal intelligence: I have always been impressed by the short-term memory of chimpanzees, which outperforms that of humans:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM5QS_adrIQ

The explanation given by scientists is that chimpanzees need this type of memory to keep a clear mental map of their surroundings while climbing. Still, spectacular.

> But after a few days I had flock of crows following me everywhere through the city. That was a bit too much.

Be thankful. How many people you know are part of a murder?

The crow and rocks experiment was a staple “moral story” when I was a child in India. Interesting that someone actually validated it!

> I had flock of crows following me everywhere through the city

That sound so cool, like main character in your story.

Around here in the autumn crows engage with various nuts, hard shell ones included difficult or impossible for them to open. So they frequent the bicycle tracks with high traffic, fly above you from the back, elevate a bit while dropping their nuts so you can run those over. Lots of heavy cargo bikes are used by families here, so it is a fruitful exercise for them. Assuming the cyclist realises what is happening and instead of avoiding the nut - like I did the first time not having a clue what this is about - run over it.

One of my favourites as well. Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2IBayVsbz8

My desire to befriend some crows is only increased by this comment.

Seems the setup for one of those “the crows have eyes” movies.

https://www.thecrowshaveeyes.com/

I saw that video of the experiment with the thin glass as well, it's been years since then but I still tell people about it. Crows are awesome!