Do crows bring gifts and trinkets if you feed them?

It isn’t a new concept, but a belief that has been going on for centuries now. In the course of history, a number of cultures have harboured the unwavering faith that some animals and birds can bring about gifts, rewards and good fortune to those who provide for them. In the Sanatan Dharma, also referred to as the Hindu culture, it has been a strong belief that cows, revered as ‘Gau Mata’ are the divine messengers of forebearers, and feeding them is deemed to call for blessings and good fortune.Likewise, in different folktales, it is believed that birds could return with kindness offered to them with exceptional symbols of gratitude.

This indeed is a subject of immense fascination and appealing insights, so, if it grabbed your attention and you want to learn more about this topic, today’s your lucky day! We bring to you an astonishing real-life experience of a little girl and her phenomenal connection with crows, as featured by BBC News.
In Seattle, Gabi Mann, a 17-year-old girl, grew a beautifully unique bond with the crows in her garden in the early days of year 2011. This relationship was initiated unintentionally when Gabi was just four years old and was in the habit of dropping bits and pieces of her food here and there. Once, she dropped some leftovers from the meal she was having while getting out of her family’s car, and the crows of the locality, being familiar with her practice, quickly developed the skill of predicting her behaviour, diving swiftly to fetch her chicken nuggets off the ground.

Gradually, Gabi started to intentionally feed the crows, giving part of her lunch to her chirpy companions, on her route to the bus stop. Lisa, her mother, experienced joy in her daughter’s warmth and affection towards these birds, which steadily renewed their family’s appreciation of nature.
Gabi and her mother formed a habitual practice of offering food to the crows. Every morning, they would top off their backyard birdbath with fresh water and lay out peanuts around the bird feeder area. As they performed this, the crows would assemble on close-by phone lines, cawing in excitement. It was during this daily routine it came to Gabi’s attention that the crows were starting to leave her little gifts and trinkets- - shimmering and dazzling items including polished stones, earrings, and small metal pieces.

Gabi’s assortment of these beautiful gifts, which she showcases in a bead organizer with immense delight, highlights her pure and unique connection with the crows. Each of the items is precisely labeled with information about where and when found. Among her most precious gifts is a beautiful pearl-coloured heart that she holds as a symbol of crows’ fondness for her. This group of items consists of simple trinkets like a blue Lego piece or a black button, that have taken on immense value for her, demonstrating a relationship developed on a foundation of consistency and kindness.
Specialists such as John Marzluff, a professor of wildlife science at the University of Washington, have analysed the engagements of crows and individuals who provide them with food. He mentions that these little creatures hold brilliant intellect and can develop profound connections with humans. Regularly providing food can help both birds and humans communicate with each other while also fostering an understanding of each other’s behaviours. While not every crow will drop off presents, those that do may leave gestures of gratitude, or even sometimes things that are meant for their partners.
Gabi’s experience is full of humorous stories about the many gifts she has gotten are somewhat out-of-the-ordinary ones. Her mother recollects a moment when Gabi received a rotting crab claw, an unwanted addition to her collection. Gabi even wittily admits the presence of a heavily rusted screw, wondering what kind of a house could a crow build with it.
There was an encounter experienced by Lisa, where she received a gift of her own from the crows. She misplaced a lens cap while on a photography outing, and she found it unexpectedly returned to her. Using a bird cam, she found footage of a crow bringing the cap back and washing it in the birdbath, a beautiful gesture she interpreted beyond thoughtfulness.

In a nutshell, Gabi’s story, which commenced in 2011, showcases the exciting possibilities that manifest when humans are crows interacting with consistency, care, and kindness. As of the year 2024, while not every kindness act leads to gifts and trinkets, there definitely is a promise of a fulfilling relationship for each and every individual willing to be a little generous with these brilliantly intelligent creatures.