We have rooks here that make a terrible racket too. One imitates different noises that it's heard - mobile 'phone tones, drills and even a sheep!!
Looks like a 'local pair' eyeing the large flightless birds in the big nest with a roof and doors. Do you routinely have crows nesting in nearby tall pine trees? If so, then your yard may be in their summer nesting area. Also you may not see many Blue Jays if any. For years we had a local pair that would invite friends over to play a game of intimidate the cat. Jerry
Jerry, Yes they are nested close by. And there is usually 6 around all the time. I wondered last summer where the blue jays went.
When we first move here 30 odd years ago, we had many Blue Jays. Soon the crows moved in and as they compete with jays for the same nesting sites the crows secured the sites. I learned a lot about crows while they were here. I could identify individuals by movement and feeding habits, especially the local pair. Offspring sometimes stay with the parents a couple of years and help raise their siblings. They are extremely cautious about 'new' food and will often invite others to share. Daring the newcomers to try the food(to see if it bites). They play group games often with 15 to 20 birds. They will respond to an alarm call even in the dead of night, flying with others that have also heard the call. They love to intimidate cats, crowing and flying about till the cat retreats. A few years ago crows were subjected to an avian flu, hundreds died, including the local pair. The Jays moved back in a year later. A crow rarely appears now. Jays are interesting but I can't tell them apart. I do like seeing them fly in for bread and popcorn, wings flapping as they depart with their spoils, often several pieces at a time. Jerry
