Why do crows travel in groups? What's the difference between a crow and a raven? How do crows mate? If any of these questions pique your curiosity, you may want to check out Kaeli Swift's engaging website, Corvid Research. Swift is a doctoral student at the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences at the University of Washington where she specializes in examining the rituals of Corvids, a family of birds that includes crows, ravens, and magpies. Swift is particularly interested in crow thanatology, or their practices associated with death. As she explains, in contrast to most animals, "Crows have long been reported to respond to their dead," adding that a number of people have "filmed or observed large, loud or quiet gatherings of crows around the body of a deceased individual." On this website, Swift shares her research with members of the general public while also providing general information about crows. Swift's frequently updated blog is available via the Current Research Tab and will appeal to fellow science students and nature enthusiasts alike. Visitors can also check out Swift's published work and links to news stories about crow research.
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