Crow Scientist

“Crow Scientist” coaches young scientists to head out into the real world and observe crows the way a scientist does. In this free app, real-life crow scientists Colleen & John Marzluff share their knowledge, their photo archives, and their love of crows. Young scientists learn about crow behavior and how to make sense of the crows they observe. The app tracks which observations the young scientist has made—by day, by year, and by lifetime.

Most observations are behaviors, such as “foraging,” and some are calls. The app includes photos of behaviors and audio recordings of crow calls to help the young scientist identify them. Checking all 18 items earns the young scientist a certificate to share or to print out.

Another list describes observations associated with the breeding season, such as juvenile crows or their distinctive begging call. Young scientists love to learn about animal families, and they love to learn to identify crow families. They also learn that in the cycle of life most young crows don’t survive. Again, if the player checks all the items, they earn a certificate to share and print.

Another list identifies rare observations. Can you catch a crow sunbathing? What about a crow with white feathers? it If you can complete this list, you get a certificate that most players will never earn.

The young scientist can even be part of the app. Players can upload images to the app, adding them to the photos that are already there. “Field Notes” in the app offer some advice for meeting crows “in the wild.” Players are invited to share their drawings and photos with the Lead Crow Scientist on Instagram.

John Marzluff is a renowned crow scientist, a professor, and an author. His books include Gifts of the Crow, In the Company of Crows and Ravens, Subirdia, and Dog Days, Raven Nights. Colleen Marzluff, the “Lead Crow Scientist,” researches crows with John and co-wrote Dog Days, Raven Nights with him. She is passionate about bringing a love of nature to children.

Includes illustrations by Tony Angell, illustrator and co-author of Gifts of the Crow and In the Company of Crows and Ravens.

Developed in partnership with Jonathan Tweet, designer of Clades Solo, the Clades card game, and the children’s book Grandmother Fish. Programmed by David Marques, scientist and creator of educational games at Ideate Games and Phosphor Learn. Made possible by backers on Kickstarter.