How lovely is this photo? How gorgeous is this bird?
She (yes, I am assuming she is female) is just lovely
in her shiny armor of midnight black.
Crows are such interesting birds. I enjoy watching them,
although I have witnessed moments I do not care to recall;
in their ability to take the life of other birds/animals. They don't
kill easily, like a hawk or owl. It is a slower, more painful death
for the prey. I once tried to save a juvenile bird that a crow was
attacking on a sidewalk. The poor victim's family of birds were surrounding
the crow while chirping in panicky tones. These desperate chirps were
what brought my attention to what was happening. I ran out to help, and
as I came nearer, to my horror the crow clutched the tiny bird in his claw and flew off.
I was left with a feeling of loss. A loss for this tiny bird's life, and the loss for it's
little bird family that tried with all their might to stop this crow. I felt bad that I couldn't help
them and perhaps, I just made things worse. I still get that feeling as I sit here typing this.
So, yes, these crows are dynamic. In the ways they perform their
daily duties. To their squabbles with one another, and their teamwork
to drive off predators from a fellow crow's nesting site. They stick together
when needed and pitch fits at each other the rest of the time. A bit like us humans.
The crow is everywhere, and they are signs of things to come for some
cultures and others believe they are symbolic of crossing souls over to the after life.
When I see a murder of crows in the sky, and as they fly overhead, I feel a
mystical quality to them. I gaze upon them in awe at their overwhelming presence
of darkness against the backdrop of the blue sky. I wonder who's soul they might
be crossing over the threshold to heaven. I wave goodbye and send out a blessing.