There are so many excellent books on the topic of corvids that covering them really requires its own post. Fortunately, that post already exists, so I’ll simply direct you to it here .



Kids

Watercolor crow onesie by art by Lucy on Etsy Raven puppet Nightlight from Happy Owl on Etsy

I firmly believe that the indoctrination of crow love into kids should begin early; immediately if possible. Fortunately, Etsy has your back with onesies, night lights, and probably whatever else your imagination can cook up. For stuffies, local children’s stores or nature stores often carry raven or crow themed plush toys including this awesome raven puppet.

There’s no shortage of corvid books aimed at kids either.

10 roudy ravens by Susan Ewing is a counting book great for early readers.

Lila and the crow by Gabrielle Grimard tells the story of a little girl who learns the beauty of being different from her neighborhood crow.

Clever crow by Cynthia De felice uses rhyme to tell the story of a young girl trying to outwit a mischievous crow that is stealing trinkets from her mother. Obviously the biology isn’t a highlight here, but the reviews are otherwise great.

If accurate biology is what you’re after, Crow smarts by Pamela Turner promises to introduce children (and adults!) to the astounding minds of crows.

For a children’s book that is more for adults than kids, consider Aldous Huxley’s The Crows of Pealblossom. Considering that crows and snakes are both often on the receiving end of misguided public vitriol, I’m not a fan that the crows’ triumph comes at the expense of the snake’s grisly end. While the snake’s fate may not be appropriate for sensitive children, any adults that share a love of crows and Huxley’s other works will surely be delighted.



Conservation

Perhaps your family tradition is that gifts should give back, or you recognize that your recipient would be happier knowing money was spent towards helping crows. The Alalā, or Hawaiian crow, is one of the most endangered animals on the planet. Since 2002, they have been considered extinct in the wild. Thanks to captive breeding efforts by the Alalā project, which is a partnership between San Diego Zoo Global and the Hawaiʻi Division of Forestry and Wildlife, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, eleven individuals were just released into the forests of the Big Island. These kinds of captive breeding and reintroduction programs are the only hope for these birds, but they are expensive. By donating not only can you directly help their cause, but you can demonstrate public interest in keeping this species alive. Currently, there is no way to donate money online but you can do so the old fashion way. Make checks payable to San Diego Zoo Global and put in the memo line that the money is to be directed to the the Hawaiian crow project. I called San Diego Zoo Global to confirm that money can be allocated to the Alalā project specifically. Mail checks to: P.O. Box 120271 San Diego, CA 92112.

With these suggestions in mind, I wish you the best in your search for the perfect gift for the crow lover in your life. Happy hunting and please feel free to mention your own gift suggestions in the comments section.