Guardian columnist laments inability to befriend local birds

A British writer reflects on why some people attract corvid companions while she remains befriended only by an aloof pigeon, citing literary precedent from Dickens and Truman Capote.

First covered Aug 10, 2026 · 3:00 AM PT · 1 article

Guardian columnist laments inability to befriend local birds — Image via theguardian.com

Coverage

22h Guardian Environment I should be happy to have a pigeon for a friend. But she wouldn’t be my first choice | Emma Beddington — Truman Capote had a ‘crow bro’; Dickens had a raven. And I get standoffish Susan, who has never brought me a present or perched on my shoulder One of the…

Primary sources

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Social learning spreads knowledge about dangerous humans among American crows

More coverage from around the web

birdsandblooms.com Here's Why You Shouldn't Try to Befriend a Crow - Birds and Blooms

cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk The crow family – can they be our garden friends? | Cornwall Wildlife Trust

washingtonpost.com I befriended my neighborhood crow. You can, too. - The Washington Post

technologyreview.com How to befriend a crow | MIT Technology Review

elmhurstleader.com Pigeons: Birds of Brilliance - How to Befriend Humanity’s Original Best Friend - The Leader

Appeared in: 2026-08-11 (#9)

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