Crazy Crow Lady

Does anyone else find it odd that a group of crows is called a Murder?  I've read a couple of different opinions of how this might have originated, but neither of them seems to make much sense really. Even odder to me is that a flock of ravens is called an Unkindness.  Go figure. Guess it is just one of those sort of nutty things about language. Personally,  I prefer family or flock. Anyway -- 

For the past several months my yard and pasture have become popular with crows (at least I think they are crows) and I have decided, after a bit of research, that I would rather be their friend than their enemy.  After all, it's their world too -- just as much as it is mine.

Having the time to explore, I have found out a few interesting things about crows. Surprising to me -- they recognize and remember faces, make tools and hold grudges which to me are all good reasons to make friends with them.  They are, apparently, very intelligent creatures in a lot of ways. Some have even been known to bring gifts of shiny objects to people they like. Apparently the crows around me do not like me or have that gift giving tendency... yet.

I do talk nicely to them, but I have not gone so far as to give them names, basically because I haven't figured out a way to tell one from another. I mean I can't even tell the difference between a crow and a raven. Another thing  ...  I wonder why I have never seen any baby crows  -- just an impressive increase in the numbers of these large black birds.   I do feed them once in a while, but not enough to make them dependent on me. Another reason I don't feed them on a regular basis is because I want them to eat bugs and pesky rodent like creatures that I would rather not meet. Plus there is the fact (just in case they are staying the winter) that I fear that I would not be a trustworthy food source in the snowy, icy months as I tend to hibernate. I don't want them mad at me.  I am totally outnumbered and their numbers continue to grow. Either that or -- they have a lot of company passing through.  Not sure which. 

I wonder where they sleep? Apparently they come together in the evenings into communal  groups -- especially in the cold months. Research indicates that they are monogamous and live with their offspring for a while as a family (I don't like calling them a Murder).  I also don't know what their nests look like and have never seen any large nests in the trees of my pasture and nearby woods.  I am curious.

It's odd really, but I find them to be friendly and in a way  -- protective somehow.  I like sharing space with them. I have potential to become the crazy crow lady.  I feel it. 

Things could be worse.

Update  -- I fear that all the crows that were hanging around are of the migratory type -- haven't seen any  since the day after I wrote this blog.  Drat. Hopefully they will be back in the Spring.