Why are crows pecking away at a freshly painted wall in Alameda?

"Paint chips can be rich in calcium carbonite (limestone), which crows not only like but need in a balanced diet. Light colored, newly painted surfaces also can attract insects that crows find irresistible. When your senior center decides to repaint the wall, you should suggest they go for a darker color."

"The primary reason dogs, for the most part, don't answer the mournful howls of their evolutionary cousins is because they don't speak the same language. The coyotes are talking to each other, or at least sending out a vocalization that can be heard by other coyotes. Dogs might hear the calls, but they don't understand the message any better than we do."

Crows exhibit behavior of chipping paint from newly painted walls, particularly tan or light-colored surfaces. This behavior stems from two primary motivations: paint chips contain calcium carbonate (limestone), which crows require as part of a balanced diet, and light-colored newly painted surfaces attract insects that crows find appealing. Building managers experiencing this issue should consider repainting affected walls with darker colors to discourage the behavior. Additionally, dogs typically do not respond to coyote vocalizations because they do not understand the coyote language or communication system, though some dogs may howl in response to fear or as a warning signal rather than joining the conversation.

Read at The Mercury News