Crows

Almost everyone has had an event in their life that drew them into consideration of the Crow. I first realized the bond of the crow community after a member of a local flock had been hit and killed by a car in the alley behind my studio. I was not a witness to the accident, but the death was called to my attention by the anguished cries of his kin. The din of their mourning brought me out to find a crushed carcass outside my gate. The surrounding trees were cluttered with crows, perched but otherwise not moving - singing their dirge.

Through this first day I only reflected on the situation; but when the birds had not departed by the second day I realized that something grave and significant had occurred to them. By the morning of the third day I was compelled to bury the victim - with some ceremony - under the watchful eyes of the flock. Sometime after this they began to depart.

Crows - the corvidae family - includes a collection of birds that outside of parrots demonstrate the highest response intelligence of all birds. Community animals with a penchant for mischief, the corvid family boasts the Ravens, the Jays, Magpies, Jackdaws, Rooks, the Nutcrackers and of course the Crow in basic black. Corvids are sociable, and while they nest in pairs, in some species the offspring of a successful breeding pair will assist their parents in subsequent years to raise their younger siblings. This may go on for two, three or even four years running until they get the routine down and set off on their own breeding missions. Four years may seem a long time for a young bird to "learn the ropes" of parenting, but as some Crows live for forty years, four years is not excessive - especially in the context of weaving themselves into the fabric of their complex community.

During the time they are not engaged in family responsibilities, the corvids - especially the youngsters - find ways to explore the boundaries of their troop. Various species have been observed participating in games of chance or dare, "upsmanship" aerobatics, and the time honored "picking on predators" game. This latter activity involves setting one or more individuals up to the task of harassing a larger predacious animal. A gang will sit by and cajole the initiates into dive-bombing a Coyote, strafing a Hawk or pulling at the tail feathers of a feeding Eagle. This teaches the group something about the ways of their predators; but it also elevates the initiate in the esteem of the clan, allowing them all to gauge their collective strength on the merits of the individuals within the group. It was perhaps by these tests of courage and skill that the dead crow outside my studio earned the legendary esteem to warrant the deep and long wake of his tribe.