Food of the Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos Brehm, in South-central Kansas

"Food of the Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos Brehm, in South-central Kansas" by Dwight Platt is a scientific publication produced by the University of Kansas, published in the mid-20th century. This work investigates the dietary habits of crows in south-central Kansas over a span of approximately one year. The book focuses on the ecological and economic significance of the crow's diet, utilizing the analysis of regurgitated pellets to identify their food sources throughout different seasons. In this publication, Platt conducts a detailed study of the food gathered by the crows, examining 617 regurgitated pellets collected between December 1952 and February 1954. The findings reveal that the diet heavily consists of plant material, especially wheat, sorghum, and sunflower seeds, while beetles and grasshoppers represent significant animal food sources. The study highlights seasonal variations in crow feeding habits and discusses the ecological role of crows as both predators of insects and scavengers. Additionally, it assesses the economic impact of crows on local agriculture, particularly in relation to grain crops, elucidating that while crows do consume some crops, they also play a vital role in controlling pest populations within their habitat.