City’s crows display their street cred

I’M just back from a short break in the Dutch town of Eindhoven.

It was a strictly urban affair as, apart from the commute to and from the airport, I didn’t stray outside the centre of this rather charming city. So wildlife experiences were not really on the menu, though I did have one interesting encounter.

I was sitting in a pavement cafe idly watching feral pigeons foraging for crumbs when they were joined by two black birds that at first I didn’t recognise. They were slightly larger than jackdaws and untidier. They also lacked the perky stance of a jackdaw. After a few moments I realised that they were immature carrion crows.