Crow vs Toad

By Birding-Aus, on January 31st, 2015

Hi all Crows appear to be winning the battle against Cane Toads, at least at our in-laws’ property in the Maranoa abt 90km east of Roma. During our latest visit before Xmas, there was a noticeable decrease in toads v frogs, by calls at least. They have been totally dominant out there for years. Every morning a Crow actively hunts them out of a hole beneath a tree in the homestead garden and eats them belly-first. Crows are apparently applying this technique to other reptiles and amphibians as I found a tree frog and a dragon lizard that had been eaten the same telltale way, presumably by Crows. Cane Toads have been rife in the area for a long time. Step on a piece of caked mud by a dry dam and dozens of toadlets would scurry out. But they were strangely quiet this time, and we were treated to an amazing frog symphony each night after the recent rains. Two sounded like they were having an aurgument – one kept responding ‘You’re wrong, you’re wrong – wrong, wrong , wrong’. Hilarious. I also saw a meteorite explode while out listening to them one starry night. Goannas, which have been absent for some time, are also returning. I saw a magnificent Sand Goanna cross the Roma-Taroom Rd nr Mooga Mooga Ck. Just missed him, thankfully. I know all the above is only anecdotal but the signs are encouraging. Shane B Brisbane

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steve.kerr

February 1, 2015 at 2:31 pm

To be honest, I am surprised that this is considered unusual. Locally (around Rockhampton), I know of a couple of locations where crows (Torresian) are considered to be in troublesome numbers … certainly at far higher population densities than the general area. My personal pet theory (just an armchair opinion really) is that these are locations that have high levels of outdoor all night lighting and the crows have gone on to ‘night shift’ to work the toads and support a much greater population of crows – the one location I am most familiar with is positively festooned in toad ‘shells’ often in locations where no toad is ever going to reach of its own devices. Away from those locations, I think most crow/toad interactions involve ‘road toads’ (i.e. ones that have been squashed by cars) but even they make quite good toad shells. Maybe in the more inland locations with lower night time temperatures, the toads are more tempted to be active with the sun nearer or above the horizon making them more vulnerable to crows without artificial lighting. I certainly don’t think they make all that much of a dent on the toad population around here … Steve Kerr Rockhampton.

talbotnicholas

February 1, 2015 at 8:49 am

This discussion reminded me of a Torresian Crow I saw with a road-killed Cane Toad at Banora Point (Tweed Heads) in January. The crow took off carrying the toad and flew across the path of my car. It dropped the toad onto the road so that I ran over it. Is it possible that the crow was tenderising the toad to make it safer to eat?

carlsclifford

January 31, 2015 at 1:42 pm

This behaviour by Corvids has been reported a few times in the top end. Not quite as spectacular as the Case of the Exploding Toads in Germany a few years back, but the technique seems to pretty effective. Hopefully, the behaviour will be learnt by other Corvids. Anyone not familiar with the German exploding toads, might like to watch this: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XK4WS83LKIM Carl Clifford

kdvdbishop7

January 31, 2015 at 12:37 pm

Great news and this fits with what I know of crow behaviour in West New Britain. The distinctive local race of crow on New Britain can be regularly seen flipping over live or dead cane toads and picking at the sift and presumably non toxic underparts. Thanks Shane.. David P. O. Box 1234, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia

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Crow vs Toad

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