Narrator/Aviva de Kornfeld

That's a very nice reaction.

That's a very nice reaction.

Science actually has an answer to this question. It turns out crows can hold grudges for a very long time. Back in 2006, John Marsluff, who is a professor in wildlife science at the University of Washington, he set up an experiment to test this. He put on this ugly orange ogre mask and walked around an area where he knew crows lived.

Science actually has an answer to this question. It turns out crows can hold grudges for a very long time. Back in 2006, John Marsluff, who is a professor in wildlife science at the University of Washington, he set up an experiment to test this. He put on this ugly orange ogre mask and walked around an area where he knew crows lived.

And then he captured a bunch of the crows while the rest of the flock looked on. Then he released them. The point was to distress the crows, but not hurt them. And then, for the next 17 years, every time he put on his ogre mask and walked around the place where he first captured the birds, the crows would swarm him. For years, each time he returned, more and more crows would join in.

And then he captured a bunch of the crows while the rest of the flock looked on. Then he released them. The point was to distress the crows, but not hurt them. And then, for the next 17 years, every time he put on his ogre mask and walked around the place where he first captured the birds, the crows would swarm him. For years, each time he returned, more and more crows would join in.

Because crows not only remember their enemies, but pass their grievances onto their crow children and grandchildren. Alan was not aware of all of that. So for weeks, he'd leave his house every day, hoping the birds had finally forgotten about him. No such luck. So he tried a new tactic.

Because crows not only remember their enemies, but pass their grievances onto their crow children and grandchildren. Alan was not aware of all of that. So for weeks, he'd leave his house every day, hoping the birds had finally forgotten about him. No such luck. So he tried a new tactic.

Just a PSA, there are other ways to ward off an angry crow, should you not have a wig on hand. You can hide yourself under an umbrella so the crows can't see you, or you can wear sunglasses backwards. Apparently, crows understand that sunglasses go on your eyes. And they know that if you can see them, you can potentially hurt them.

Just a PSA, there are other ways to ward off an angry crow, should you not have a wig on hand. You can hide yourself under an umbrella so the crows can't see you, or you can wear sunglasses backwards. Apparently, crows understand that sunglasses go on your eyes. And they know that if you can see them, you can potentially hurt them.

So they won't attack the back of your sunglassed head because they think you have an extra set of eyes back there. Anyway, Alan's disguise, it was working perfectly for him.

So they won't attack the back of your sunglassed head because they think you have an extra set of eyes back there. Anyway, Alan's disguise, it was working perfectly for him.

Really?

Really?

What? Ew, it literally flipped out.

What? Ew, it literally flipped out.

It sounds like you're developing a whole kind of relationship with these birds, almost.

It sounds like you're developing a whole kind of relationship with these birds, almost.

Alan decided he had to make amends with the crows. A real truce. But how do you do that? How do you make things right with a couple of birds?

Alan decided he had to make amends with the crows. A real truce. But how do you do that? How do you make things right with a couple of birds?