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Naturelover, you might say that Ravens and crows are my very own Totem animal because of my family surname.

The name Corbin was originally derived from the Old French word "corbeau," which means "raven."
 
Corvids (Birds of the crow family) are among the most intelligent of birds. I’ve watched documentaries that prove that crows can think cognitively, communicate at an astounding level, and even manufacture their own tools.

When I’m on top of the mountain in Perry County PA my one camp is near a ravens nest. Several times a day they fly in the area doing loop de loops and other Types of flying that can’t be described by anything but just for fun.

I used to have two “pet” crows. I raised them and hand fed them for several months after they fell out of the nest. For that entire summer they returned to my porch every day looking for food. They even knocked on my window to tell me they were there. That fall they stopped coming regularly. Once, about a month after they stopped coming to my porch regularly. I was at a gas station 3 miles from home and filling my van with gas. I heard a crow fussing from the roof of the building, I could not recognize this bird as one of mine by site. I called out the two names that I had for those birds and Said “ come to papa”. A phrase that I used often when feeding them that spring. The Crow that was making a fuss flew down and sat on my shoulder and started “preening“ my beard. I think the folks around me were scared or at least amazed. That was my last contact with the birds but I think of them every time I see a black bird. I named those two crows one was Russell crow the other was Cheryl Crow.

Believe it or not that’s a true story.
 
Corvids (Birds of the crow family) are among the most intelligent of birds. I’ve watched documentaries that prove that crows can think cognitively, communicate at an astounding level, and even manufacture their own tools.

When I’m on top of the mountain in Perry County PA my one camp is near a ravens nest. Several times a day they fly in the area doing loop de loops and other Types of flying that can’t be described by anything but just for fun.

I used to have two “pet” crows. I raised them and hand fed them for several months after they fell out of the nest. For that entire summer they returned to my porch every day looking for food. They even knocked on my window to tell me they were there. That fall they stopped coming regularly. Once, about a month after they stopped coming to my porch regularly. I was at a gas station 3 miles from home and filling my van with gas. I heard a crow fussing from the roof of the building, I could not recognize this bird as one of mine by site. I called out the two names that I had for those birds and Said “ come to papa”. A phrase that I used often when feeding them that spring. The Crow that was making a fuss flew down and sat on my shoulder and started “preening“ my beard. I think the folks around me were scared or at least amazed. That was my last contact with the birds but I think of them every time I see a black bird. I named those two crows one was Russell crow the other was Cheryl Crow.

Believe it or not that’s a true story.
Oh, I believe it!

There's a prof (John Marzluff) at U of Washington who's done a number of behavioral studies on campus crows (catch and release, this prof would never harm a crow). Some of the crows enjoyed the experiments, some didn't. And those birds remembered the faces of the experimenters and reacted accordingly for a few years after.

Marzluff's research is well worth following. Also, if he's ever speaking anywhere near you, go see him. He's a very fun speaker.
 
Jacqueg; I have seen videos of this man’s work. The most fascinating thing to me was that these birds communicate to the second and third generation. He disturbed a nest of crows While wearing a mask. Not only did the adult crows remember that for years but they passed The fear of someone wearing that mask to the second and third generation. Absolutely amazing. Man thinks he’s so smart but our creator shows just how dumb we are sometimes.
 
The crows stalked my cat for months after he stole one of the chicks. He took it into the house through the cat door by the back door of the house. They attacked him whenever he went outside. They dive bombed me as well when I went out the back door. It was not just one crow, there was a squadron on watch duty.

Eventually the tree they nested in got cut down by the neighbor whose house it was next to. That was the end of the situation. That rookerie moved on to new territory. Which meant the neighbors finally got to sleep in on weekend mornings.

It did happen in Washington Puget Sound area but not on the UW campus where those experiments took place.
 
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Jacqueg; I have seen videos of this man’s work. The most fascinating thing to me was that these birds communicate to the second and third generation. He disturbed a nest of crows While wearing a mask. Not only did the adult crows remember that for years but they passed The fear of someone wearing that mask to the second and third generation. Absolutely amazing. Man thinks he’s so smart but our creator shows just how dumb we are sometimes.
There is ABSOLUTELY more than one way to be smart. Just as a crow couldn't navigate my life - I sure couldn't navigate a crow's life.

I've always loved science fiction and the many ways there are to imagine alien life. But in the meantime, there is plenty of alien life to explore here right on this planet, and the more we pay attention, the more we find.
 
Gives an upgrading to the phrase “bird brain”
 
Hello again my friends. I just watched the van build video from Pahrump. What a joy it is to see others helping those in need and to see the gratitude of those who are being helped. Kudos to those Outwest who are so well organized they can help each other. As an eastern nomad I am jealous. there has been lots of talk and high hopes for something to be done here on the East Coast too. I had tried to start some communication among our eastern Nomad several times. My failures really revealed my lack of understanding of what we need on the Internet. And my sensitivity to the negatives. I cannot understand it when somebody tries to do something good the negative speakers come out of the woodwork. I wish more helpers and well wishers would come out of the woodwork.

I still believe that what we need on the East Coast is some type of Internet communication that those of us who are nomads can talk to each other so that we can get to know each other find out where we’re at maybe visit each other maybe have a small caravans because of that communication also be spreading the word to other nomads out there on the East Coast and inviting them to join our communication. I believe communication is the first part of the job and then from there we go onto really organizing to help each other the way they do out on the West Coast. Just my feelings be welcome to listen to any other comments and suggestions.

I still feel sad about not being chosen for that nice rig you they are giving away out west. And I’ve said before but I wanna stress I have no hard feelings about it I’m glad somebody is going to get it who can use it. I just would be lying if I didn’t say I’m very disappointed. I was foolish to count my chickens before they were hatched I was just so excited about the possibility. I thought with the quality of that vehicle I would be able to save up money to have an emergency fund because they had done most of the work out there. I hope you understand I’m not feeling bitter I’m just feeling disappointed. I thought receiving something like that would be the way that I could continue this life. But I’m not giving up I’m gonna try to continue this life in this old rig and keep it tied together and running. God bless everyone involved in that especially the one who donated it and even the one who’s getting it. I have big things that have to be done to my van before it is the way it should be for this trip to Florida. I have an inverter, an MPPT controller, a max air fan, and a few other things that I’m just hauling along hoping to be installed someday.

working on inproving my health doing exercises every day and I start water aerobics or water therapy tomorrow hoping that goes well and I get more strength to make this life a little bit better. I have no problem getting in the van but I have a little bit of fear about falling when I try to get out of it. The injury to my shoulder is getting much better but there was nerve damage that causes more shaking in my hand and a great deal of pain in my fingers.
hey I’m not complaining I’m doing better than I was when I was in a rehab. I’m staying at my friends pond near Mountville Pennsylvania, Lancaster County. I haven’t driven the van lately just living in it. God bless the nomads everyone of them especially those of us on the East Coast. (Sorry Westies). I put two pictures of my present campsite up. They may have been on here before I’m not sure. Of course one is daylight one is just before sunrise. I’m very lucky to have a friend who owns this beautiful farm and it’s nice pond. I’ll say it a second time God bless the nomads.
 

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Naturelover you sure can’t complain about having such a lovely location to hang out in.

There comes a time when most of us will no longer have the physical or financial strength to get labor intensive projects that have some physical risk to them accomplished.

I have a few projects left to finish on my trailer. But has been too hot for wanting to work on them this week. I will be having to take it easy and watch out for dehydration tomorrow but it will cool down over the weekend.
 
I see I haven’t posted since October 19. So to quote mark twain “the rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated”

i’m still living in the van without the wheels turning. Not driving yet. Undergoing aqua therapy twice a week and working hard on getting all the stuff from the nature center out of the storage sheds which I can’t afford. I’m gonna try driving either today or tomorrow.

just wanted to check in to let you know, I’m still a van dweller, still, hoping to get to Florida this winter, but don’t see the way clear yet.

has anyone seen an announcement about who got the camper from HOWA? I’m just interested, and, of course, jealous, but I’m jealous of anybody who has a nice rig. Mine is livable, but being stationary in one place, I’ve just accumulated so much junk that I gotta go through another purge.

God bless the nomads, whether the wheels turn or not.
 
Good to hear from ya! I made it west visiting kids and grandkids. Started physical therapy yesterday. But weather is changing fast, so my time here is dwindling. Q is a couple easy days away!
I hope you get your wheels turning south soon.
 
Lately it seems like HOWA is mostly posting news and videos on Facebook. I saw the info about the winner of the van there.
 
I was hoping you would get the van nature lover but it looks like the person who did get it really needs it too.
Here is a video of her getting the news:
And here is a short clip of the van being prepped for paint. Go to 5:31
 
I am so happy that someone who deserves this got it. But I have to admit I am so damn jealous. I need a vehicle I can get in and out of better and that’s in much better shape than what I got now I was out of the competition because they said I couldn’t afford to maintain that vehicle, but with the shape that one was in, I could afford to maintain it a lot better Because it’s in so much better shape than the one. I’m in now. i’m just venting. I have nothing against HOWA or the recipient or anybody with it. just like mama used to say wish in one hand and shit in the other and see which one weighs the most 😄😄

i’m going to keep on keeping on. I’ll try to make this my last comment on the event.

God bless the nomads in nice rigs and junk; in the east, and in the west (we know that east is best.)
 
I bought a lottery ticket today. Maybe I will win that billion dollars 🥳
 
I finally won $50 yesterday after playing the AZ games for 4 years. Only a couple bucks per week.
 
^^^To quote Gordon Lightfoot “Sometimes I think it’s a sin when I feel like I’m winning when I’m loosing again.” Spend it quick! Lol!!!
 
I am proud to say that I have never ever lost the lottery. PA lottery’s motto is you gotta play to win, my motto is if you play you lose. I mean no offense to you lottery players, but I believe that the lottery is a tax on stupidity. I have paid too many taxes in my life I’m not going to volunteer For more. A proven fact that you got a better chance of being struck by lightning than winning the big lottery. In other words winning more than you put in over time. Anyone who wins a big lotto amount. Within five years they are broke, divorced, or worse. They lose all their friends and family, because everyone comes begging. So winning is really losing and never playing is the only way to win.

No offense to anybody just my opinion. And since I’m perfect, never done anything wrong in my life, I can shout this from the hilltops.

by the way, if any of you guys do win I’d like to have a share please😎👀🤢

gotta go to sleep now it’s 1 AM and I have an appointment for pool therapy at 7 AM.
 
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