DEAR JOAN: We live in the Oakland hills, which is home to a lot of birds. This past spring, we had for the first time a large family of American crows -- maybe 15 or 20 birds -- move into the trees in our backyard and into our neighbor's yards as well. Beautiful large, coal-black birds.

They come five or six at a time to our birdbath for water, so we enjoy watching them. Their "cawing" is a bit loud at times, but that's part of it, I guess.

Last week my wife and I were standing close to the deck railing when a crow flew down and landed heavily on the railing not three feet from us, which is unusual because they don't usually let us get that close. It just stood there looking at us. My wife reached out a finger and it pecked at it, so this crow was certainly used to being around people. Then we noticed it had a white band around each leg.

American crow, on the move.
American crow, on the move. (Chuck Berman/Chicago Tribune)

My wife waved it away a little more aggressively, and it pecked at her a little more aggressively. It was in no hurry to leave regardless of us. It pecked at some of the deck lights and a few plants, and finally flew off. Are there organizations studying the American crow? Who would band it and why?

Ken Ubsdell


DEAR KEN: Quite a few organizations are interested in American crows, as well as other birds. The U.S. Geological Survey operates a Bird Banding Laboratory where it bands and follows thousands of wild birds including crows. The lab also regulates the banding by other groups.


Because banding birds requires capturing and handling them, it requires a federal banding permit. Some states also can require a permit.

The federal bands used are metallic and are embossed with a phone number and an identification number. Researchers ask people finding the birds to make a report, which helps them track bird movement and population numbers.

The information provides vital information on migration patterns and populations.

Seattle also is studying the movement of American crows, as are groups on the East Coast. The bands are color coded to identify projects and locations, but in addition to the white bands your crow wore, it should also have had a metal band from the federal government.

For information on bird banding, go to

I'm not sure about the bird you saw, but it definitely has had contact with someone in its life, which could help explain its bold nature. Crows are exceptionally bright birds and many have lost some of their natural wariness of humans, which isn't really a good thing for birds in general.

DEAR JOAN: For several weeks now we have been finding these "worms" in the track of our patio door slider as well as outside. We also have found bloody snaillike trails on the sides of the house.

At first I thought a bird attacked something on the patio as there were blood-like marks all over the side of the house. I cleaned it up and a few days later there were more trails.

Could this worm be leaving those marks?

E. Williams

East Contra Costa County

DEAR E.: The "worms" in the photo you sent in are actually larvae -- caterpillars or grubs of some sort. I wasn't able to get an identification for you, but like most larvae, they likely eat vegetation.

&quot;Bloody&quot; trails.
"Bloody" trails. (Courtesy of E. Williams)

Do you have any red foliage growing around the house? If so, the larvae may be eating it and then leaving colored excrement trails.

I'm not sure poo is better than blood, but at least that may explain what you're seeing.

Contact Joan Morris at